NY Times Article Updates Srtris Pharama Progress

Interesting update covering a conference on aging at Harvard university. Click here:

New Sirtuin Hypothesis by David Sinclair Group

Seeking to unblock the mysteries of whether sirtuins (more specifically SIRT1) actually hold the secrets to aging, a group of scientist lead by David Sinclair of Sirtris Pharmacueticals (now part of GlaxoSmithKline ) has put forward the latest hypothesis on the mechanisms of SIRT1's role within a cell. For those not well versed in molecular biology, the hypothesis is rather complicated. Sirtuin Investor will attempt to simplify it into layman's terms:

1. Each cell has a double strand of DNA that, if stretched out, would extend over six feet long.
2. Each of these DNA strands has about 20,000 genes or so.
3. Under normal operations, each cell must provide instantaneous access to a very limited number of genes depending on the cell type (i.e. blood, pancreatic, renal, bone marrow, etc.)
4. The primary role of the SIRT1 is to help a cell SUPPRESS all the genes it shouldn't be accessing.
5. SIRT1 also has an important secondary role...to act as the cell's handyman, moving into action to repair any breaks in DNA strands within the cell.
6. Unfortunately, when the SIRT1 puts on its handyman hat and moves into action to make DNA repairs within the cell, it temporarily vacates its chief role as gene suppressor. Remember, only a handful of specialized genes are supposed to be active within any given cell type.
7. With SIRT1 distracted from it's primary role, normally dormant genes can wake up start partying, in the process, playing havoc and causing damage to the cell (think of a bunch of teenagers at house party when naive parents go on vacation). In the best case scenario, this cumulative damage is what we see in ourselves as normal aging.
8. Find a way to over express SIRT1 (analogous to finding surrogate parents while the real ones are on vacation) and there are less opportunities for cell damage....and the aging process is slowed down.

Whether this hypothesis gains wide support is open to debate. However, the hypothesis is tantalizingly seductive. Only time will tell whether the idea of a fountain of youth is a reachable goal or still a distant fantasy.

One final thought: you think the social security system (and our entire financial system) is in trouble now, just think about what will happen if we achieve the ability to extend our lifetimes by 20%? Oy Vey! Keep taking that resveratrol!

Resveratrol: Fat Buster?

In a study by Martin Wabitsch, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Ulm in Germany, evidence was presented that furthers the belief that resveratrol may act as a catalyst to reduce the body's production of fat cells. This latest study was performed on human cells in a laboratory test and showed how resveratrol inhibits the number of nascent fat cells that grow into mature fat cells. If fats and carbohydrates from food cannot be transformed into fat cells, they are typically broken down and burned as energy instead. If these lab tests are an accurate indication of the actual process that takes place in the human body, it would limit the addition of fatty tissue. You know, that little (or big) spare tire you carry around your waist that you can't get rid of? This research advances evidence that explains the notion of the "French Paradox". Although the French diet tends to be high in fatty food, the overall population has a much lower obesity rate than other developed countries. Many have hypothesized that high French consumption of red wine is offsetting the high fat content. Only in the last few years has resveratrol been identified as the actual molecule in red wine that makes this happen.

For more detailed coverage of this study refer to these articles in Science News and CBS News.