Plant Protein COG's Role in Aging Uncovered
UC Riverside scientists find that the COG protein, essential for the function of the Golgi body in plant cells, plays a critical role in managing stress and aging, potentially offering clues to human aging.
- Scientists at UC Riverside discovered that the Golgi body, an organelle in plant cells, and a protein called COG, play a crucial role in plant aging and survival under stress.
- Under normal conditions, plants modified to not produce COG grew fine, but when deprived of light, they showed signs of aging and began to die within three days.
- Reintroducing the COG protein into the plants rapidly reversed the aging signs and brought them back to life.
- The Golgi body and COG protein are present in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans, suggesting potential implications for human aging.
- The research team plans to further study the molecular mechanisms behind these findings, potentially advancing knowledge about aging and age-related diseases in humans.
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