Protein Linked to Longevity in Mammals

Protein Linked to Longevity in Mammals

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At last, a member of the celebrated sirtuin family of proteins has been shown to extend lifespan in mammals — although it’s not the one that has received the most attention and financial investment. Sirtuin genes and the proteins they encode have intrigued many researchers who study aging ever since they were first linked to longevity in yeast. Results published recently in Nature suggest that the overexpression of one gene, called sirtuin 6, can lengthen lifespan in male mice by as much as 15.8 percent.