Scientists have found that tardigrade proteins can slow down
metabolism in human cells, an advance that could one day lead to technologies that
slow the ageing process.
Tardigrades, or water bears, are one of the world’s most indestructible life forms, showing the ability to survive extreme conditions.
They can survive being completely dried out, frozen, heated to over 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150C), irradiated several thousand times beyond what a human can withstand, and even survive the
vacuum of outer space.
Previous studies have shown that these creatures, measuring less than half a millimeter long, can enter a vegetative state to shield their bodies when exposed to extreme conditions.…..
Now a research team led by the University of Wyoming (UW) in the US has found that the water bears use proteins that form gels inside their cells to slow down life processes.
When these proteins were introduced into human cells, they discovered that the molecules gel and slow down metabolism, just like in tardigrades.…….
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/anti-ageing-tardigrade-protein-b2521902.html