Key points from article :
A new mechanism of aging linked to defects in RNA transcription.
Researchers compared 15-week-old mice to 2-year-old mice, and found that transcriptions were significantly reduced in the old mice.
RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription was reduced in aged liver compared to younger mice.
Transcription-blocking lesions on DNA hinder RNAPII, particularly for longer genes.
Multiple aging hallmarks influenced, including mTOR, insulin, autophagy, and immune function.
Non-dividing cells more susceptible to RNA polymerase stalling due to DNA damage.
Future research may explore treatments affecting DNA lesions and aging.
Study co-authored by Jan Hoeijmakers from Erasmus University, published in Nature Genetics.
