Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025

Measurement of Protein Turnover Rates in Senescent and Non-Dividing Cultured Cells with Metabolic Labeling and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 6, 2022
Unravelling Convergent Signaling Mechanisms Underlying the Aging-Disease Nexus Using Computational Language Analysis
Marina Junyent1,2, Haki Noori1,3, Robin De Schepper1
1Receptor Biology Lab., University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
Abstract:
Multiple lines of evidence suggest that multiple pathological conditions and diseases that account for the majority of human mortality are driven by the molecular aging process. At the cellular level, aging can largely be conceptualized to comprise the progressive accumulation of molecular damage, leading to resultant cellular dysfunction. As many diseases, e.g., cancer, coronary heart disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Type II diabetes mellitus, or chronic kidney disease, potentially share a common molecular etiology, then the identification of such mechanisms may represent an ideal locus to develop targeted prophylactic agents that can mitigate this disease-driving mechanism. Here, using the input of artificial intelligence systems to generate unbiased disease and aging mechanism profiles, we have aimed to identify key signaling mechanisms that may represent new disease-preventing signaling pathways that are ideal for the creation of disease-preventing chemical interventions. Using a combinatorial informatics approach, we have identified a potential critical mechanism involving the recently identified kinase, Dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 3 (DYRK3) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that may function as a regulator of the pathological transition of health into disease via the control of cellular fate in response to stressful insults.
Insights
Aging drives many diseases by accumulating molecular damage. Researchers used AI to find that Dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 3 (DYRK3) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may be key targets for preventing age-related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biogerontology
- Molecular Biology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Aging is linked to numerous human diseases and mortality.
- Cellular aging involves progressive molecular damage and dysfunction.
- Common molecular etiologies may underlie diverse diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify novel signaling pathways for disease prevention.
- Develop targeted prophylactic agents against aging mechanisms.
- Utilize artificial intelligence for unbiased mechanism profiling.
Main Methods:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) systems for mechanism profiling.
- Combinatorial informatics approach.
- Analysis of signaling pathways regulating cellular fate.
Main Results:
- Identified a critical mechanism involving DYRK3 and EGFR.
- DYRK3 and EGFR may regulate the transition from health to disease.
- These kinases control cellular fate in response to stress.
Conclusions:
- DYRK3 and EGFR represent potential targets for disease-preventing interventions.
- Targeting this pathway could mitigate age-related disease progression.
- AI-driven discovery offers new avenues for prophylactic drug development.
Related Concept Videos
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Mitochondria
Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...

