A novel longevity gene has been discovered, capable of extending lifespan by 12-35%

On June 4, 2024, Zhejiang University, in collaboration with the Molecular Plant Science Excellence Innovation Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a study in Nature Aging titled “Identification of a longevity gene through evolutionary rate covariation of insect mito-nuclear genomes.”

Mitochondria are crucial organelles within eukaryotic cells, primarily responsible for energy production. As organisms' age, including humans, mitochondrial function tends to decline. Given the close association between mitochondria and aging, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is of great importance. Recently, there has been significant interest in research aimed at extending lifespan by optimizing mitochondrial function.

The origin of mitochondria is intimately connected with the formation of eukaryotic cells. According to the endosymbiotic theory, mitochondria originated from an ancient alpha-proteobacterium that was engulfed by a primitive eukaryotic cell but not digested; instead, it formed a symbiotic relationship with the host cell. Over evolutionary time, a stable interaction and cooperation between mitochondria and the cell nucleus has been established. This study approached the problem from the perspective of mito-nuclear co-evolution, integrating evolutionary biology, computational biology, functional genomics, and other interdisciplinary fields to systematically explore nuclear genes that remotely control mitochondrial evolution.

By analyzing data from public databases, the researchers collected nuclear and mitochondrial genomes from 472 insect species. Using co-evolution algorithms, they constructed a global co-evolution map between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Detailed analysis of this map revealed 75 nuclear genes that, although not located in mitochondria, exhibit significant co-evolution patterns with mitochondrial genes. To validate the functions of the 75 co-evolved nuclear genes, the researchers selected four genes (CG13220, CG11837, Nop60B, and CG11788) and conducted gene knockdown experiments in fruit flies. 

The CG11837 gene not only influences mitochondrial morphology but also showed a significant positive correlation with the lifespan of animals. Reduced activity of the CG11837 gene significantly shortened the lifespan of all studied animals, with reductions ranging from 25% to 59%. To further investigate whether the CG11837 gene has lifespan-extending potential, overexpression experiments were conducted in fruit flies and C. elegans. The results indicated that lifespan was significantly extended in these animals, with increases ranging from 12% to 35% compared to the control group. Experiments on human ex vivo cells showed that activating the CG11837 gene significantly improved anti-aging capacity, with a 30% enhancement. This series of studies confirms the broad longevity effects of the CG11837 gene in animals.

Shen Xingxing, one of the researchers, noted that the discovery of the CG11837 gene holds significant theoretical importance and practical potential. In agriculture, this gene could become a new target for controlling pests. In human health, activating the CG11837 gene may represent a new strategy for extending human lifespan. Preliminary experimental results have confirmed the gene's potential in enhancing cellular anti-aging capabilities. With further research, more CG11837-based drugs (including RNA vaccines) and therapeutic methods may emerge, offering new possibilities for extending healthy human lifespan and improving quality of life.