Calories key to longevity, study finds

The enzyme responsible for the reliable transcription of cells, as the copying of information from DNA is called, lies behind aging, according to researchers at German institutes.

A group of researchers, including five Greeks, discovered that the RNA polymerase responsible for cell transcription moves along the DNA faster in aged cells than in young cells, resulting in more errors in the process.

The expectation is that simple interventions will restore transcription speed to normal levels. These include diet, particularly the number of calories consumed per day, which can affect transcription and improve the function of aged cells.

"There is a basic mechanism of our cell function, the dysregulation of which explains aging to a significant extent. How this mechanism is dysregulated was a surprise," explains Argyris Papantonis, professor of Epigenetics at the...