‘Eternal creatures’ may hide an anti-aging elixir

USA – A team of scientists studying mysterious creatures called “water bears” have found a potential new tool in their quest to slow human aging.

“Water bears” are known as semi-microscopic creatures with “eight legs” that can survive in harsh conditions that might kill most other forms of life, since they contain proteins called CAHS that form gelatinous substances inside cells and slow down the vital processes that cause cell damage.

The gel can act as an anti-aging elixir.

When water bears become stressed, their entire body begins to slow down, including at the microscopic level. They can enter a state called biostasis, where they endure near-total drought for years until water is once more available.

Previous research has shown that when water bears begin to undergo biostasis, their bodies produce more CAHS proteins. The more CAHS proteins, the more jelly-like the interior becomes.

In the laboratory, scientists implanted the “water bear” proteins into human cells, and found that they slowed down and entered a kind of hibernation, just as happens in “eternal” creatures.

“Just like water bears, when human cells containing these proteins are placed in a state of biostasis, they become more resistant to stress,” said research scientist Silvia Sanchez Martinez, from the University of Wyoming.

Scientists said that if our cells might resist DNA damage caused by the sun or exposure to toxic substances, like the cells of “water bears”, perhaps the entire aging process might be slowed.

The study was published in the journal Protein Science.

Source: Daily Mail