‘Fountain of youth’ enzyme lengthens mouse life

February 23, 2012 | Source: New Scientist

Finally, a contender for the elusive fountain of youth: SIRT6, an enzyme found in humans appears to lengthen the life of mice, Bar-Ilan University have found.

They compared mice genetically engineered to have increased levels of SIRT6 with normal mice. Male mice lived 15 per cent longer than normal mice or females. Older modified male mice metabolized sugar faster than normal mice and females, suggesting that SIRT6 might extend life by protecting against metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

Yariv Kanfi et al., Why SIRT6 didn’t affect females is a puzzle, but may be related to differences in genes that regulate ageing in males and females, Nature, Feb. 22, 2012, DOI: 10.1038/nature10815.