Mark McCormick, an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico, runs a lab studying ageing mechanisms and developing age-delaying drug targets. In this episode, Matt and Mark discuss the role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in protein synthesis, the potential of tRNA synthetase inhibitors for extending lifespan (but caution against them for now), and the challenges in ageing research, including why his lab has avoided mouse experiments and which interventions show promise.

Key Points:

Mark McCormick discusses his lab's work on ageing, including potential drug targets and the use of machine learning. He and Matt explore aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases' role in ageing, the potential and risks of their inhibitors, and the complexities of longevity research.

• tRNA synthetase inhibitors for lifespan extension: Mark McCormick's lab at the University of New Mexico explores drugs that inhibit tRNA synthetases to extend lifespan, showing promising results in yeast, worms, and mammalian cells.
• Role of tRNA synthetases in protein synthesis: tRNA synthetases are enzymes crucial for protein synthesis, and their inhibition may mimic a state of amino acid starvation, which could have anti-ageing effects.
• Potential and risks of tRNA synthetase inhibitors: The discussion covers the potential and risks of using tRNA synthetase inhibitors as anti-ageing therapies, emphasizing that these drugs are not ready for human use.
• Challenges in translating research to practical applications: Challenges in translating laboratory findings to practical applications, particularly concerning dosage and side effects in mammals, are highlighted.
• Discovery of longevity interventions: The episode also examines why larger and better longevity interventions are not yet discovered and the complexities of studying longevity across different species.
• Effectiveness of various longevity interventions: Mark rates various longevity interventions, such as rapamycin and caloric restriction, for their effectiveness in laboratory animals and humans.