Ribosomes, the "translation factories" of the cell, are cellular organelles that play a central role in protein synthesis, a vital process for all living organisms. These tiny structures themselves consist of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins and are essential for the survival and normal functioning of the cell, as the proteins they produce are required for nearly all cellular processes, including structure, function, and regulation. The production of ribosomes begins when RNA polymerase I (Pol I) synthesizes pre-rRNA, a precursor transcript of the mature ribosomal RNA (rRNA) that later becomes part of the ribosome. Previously, it was shown that lower activity of Pol I is associated with longer life, but there was no precise explanation for this. A study published in "Nature Communications" now demonstrates that reducing Pol I activity in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans leads to improved mitochondrial function and a more stable metabolism, thereby extending lifespan. These findings also have implications for human aging. The study brought together the expertise in organismal and cellular metabolism and aging of Maria Ermolaeva's research group "Stress Tolerance and Homeostasis" at the Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena, and the experience in Pol I transcription and ribosome biogenesis of Holger Bierhoff's research group "Epigenetics of Aging" which is affiliated with the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and also associated with the FLI.
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