Molecular Cell: Aging is caused by accumulation of non-functional proteins

Scientists at the Spanish National Centre for Cancer Research have determined that the accumulation of junk proteins may be the cause of aging as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The findings are published in the journal Molecular Cell.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease in which muscle control is lost. The causes of ALS are currently unknown, and there is no effective treatment.

Experts have presented evidence that a possible cause of a hereditary form of ALS - familial ALS - is the accumulation of junk proteins in motor neurons that do not perform useful functions but accumulate and prevent the cells from functioning normally. Normally, these proteins are involved in the formation of ribosomes.

According to the new hypothesis, ALS is similar in origin to another group of diseases known as ribosomopathies, associated with an excess of non-functional ribosomal proteins. In the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the negative effects are limited to motor neurons.

In addition, the researchers have identified a possible trigger mechanism that causes both ALS and aging in general. It affects the nucleus, a cell organelle where ribosomes are synthesized. It is suggested that nucleus stress triggers the aging process and is also linked to the accumulation of non-functional ribosomal proteins.

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