Affiliation:
1. Intelligent Synthetic Biology Center, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Telomeres play pivotal roles in processes closely related to somatic senescence and aging, making them a compelling target for interventions aimed at combating aging and age-related pathologies. Ginsenoside, a natural compound, has emerged as a potential remedy for promoting healthy aging, yet how it protects telomeres remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that treatment of F1 can effectively restore the level of TRF2, thereby preserving telomere integrity. This restoration leads to inhibition of the DNA damage response and improvements in mitochondrial function and, ultimately, delays in cellular senescence. Conversely, depletion of TRF2 causes mitochondrial dysfunction, accompanied by increased oxidative stress, autophagy inhibition, insufficient energy metabolism, and the onset of cellular senescence. These observations underscore the critical role of TRF2 in maintaining telomere integrity and direct association with the initiation of cellular senescence. We conduct a further analysis, suggesting F1 could bind in proximity to the TRF2 heterodimer interface, potentially enhancing dimerization stability. These findings suggest that F1 may be a promising natural remedy for anti-aging, and restoring TRF2 could potentially prevent telomere-dependent diseases commonly associated with the aging process.
Funder
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Ministry of Science
Ministry of Trade
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Multi-Department Research and Business Development Program, funded by Sejong city
KAIST Cross-Generation Collaborative Lab project
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis