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Published on: December 5, 2016
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Alternative Polyadenylation in Aging and Aging-Related Diseases
Mengqi Chen1, Xiangyu Zhu2, Lejia Hang2
1Department of Geriatrics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Aging and Disease
|January 12, 2026
Summary
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulates gene expression and impacts aging. This review explores APA's role in age-related diseases, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for aging biology.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Aging Research
Background:
- Aging is a primary risk factor for numerous chronic diseases.
- Understanding aging mechanisms is crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Non-coding genomic regions, particularly alternative polyadenylation (APA), are increasingly recognized as key gene expression regulators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of alternative polyadenylation (APA) in the context of aging.
- To explore the involvement of APA in various age-related pathologies.
- To highlight APA as a potential therapeutic target for aging and associated diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on APA and aging.
- Analysis of APA's impact on mRNA 3' UTR length and its downstream effects.
- Synthesis of findings related to APA in musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases.
Main Results:
- Alternative polyadenylation (APA) significantly influences mRNA stability, localization, and translation, affecting protein expression.
- Approximately 70% of human genes are subject to APA regulation, indicating its broad impact on cellular functions.
- APA plays a role in the pathogenesis of multiple age-related diseases, including musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and respiratory conditions.
Conclusions:
- Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a critical regulator in aging biology.
- APA contributes mechanistically to the development of age-associated diseases.
- APA represents a promising novel therapeutic target for interventions in aging and related pathologies.
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