Black Tea Aqueous Extract Extends Yeast Longevity via Antioxidant Gene Activation: Transcriptomic Analysis of...

Although tea polyphenols have antiaging potential, the molecular interplay between black tea components and cellular longevity remains unclear. This study has pioneered a dual approach combining Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan assays with comprehensive transcriptomics to dissect how black tea aqueous extract (BTAE) extends the chronological lifespan (CLS). Remarkably, BTAE induced a dose-dependent lifespan extension (34.6% maximum at 40 μg/mL), coupled with a 62% reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and enhanced superoxide dismutase/catalase/ascorbate peroxidase (SOD/CAT/APX) enzyme activities-hallmarks of antioxidant system activation. Transcriptomic profiling revealed the action mechanism of BTAE: (1) upregulation of oxidative defense arsenals (SOD1/2, CTA1, and CTT1) and mitochondrial efficiency genes (COX10), and (2) strategic downregulation of apoptosis triggers (NMA111 and AIF1) and aging accelerators (MTH1 and HSPs). Additionally, we have identified novel targets including the OLE1-mediated membrane protection pathway and IRE1-dependent proteostatic regulation as key longevity switches. These findings establish BTAE as a multi-target anti-aging modulator and offer a roadmap for translating yeast discovery into mammalian aging interventions.