Protein shown to be natural inhibitor of aging in fruit fly model

Protein shown to be natural inhibitor of aging in fruit fly model: "Sestrins are highly conserved small proteins that are produced in high amounts when cells experience stress. Sestrin function, however, remained puzzling until the Karin group found that these proteins function as activators of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), and inhibitors of the Target of Rapamycin (TOR). AMPK and TOR are two protein kinases that serve as key components of a signaling pathway shown to be the central regulator of aging and metabolism in a variety of model organisms, including the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and mammals."

Note:

• Incidentally, AMPK is an important mediator of GSK-3b which is implicated in a number of mood disorders as well as, provides a mechanim for the shut-off of the antioxidant system. Because the antioxidant system, Nrf2 and it associated proteins, are important for a number of processes of cellular homeostasis, the regulation of AMPK is a very crucial step in maintaining resistance to cell stress.
• EGCG has been demonstrated to activate this same pathway. (Huang)

For further reading:

• HEIRS Research Blog Tag: AMPK ,
• HEIRS Library Tag:  Rapamycin, GSK-3b,

Huang, C.-H., Tsai, S.-J., Wang, Y.-J., Pan, M.-H., Kao, J.-Y., and Way, T.-D. (2009). Egcg inhibits protein synthesis, lipogenesis, and cell cycle progression through activation of ampk in p53 positive and negative human hepatoma cells. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 9999(9999):NA+. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/5402238