Peptide Epitalon activates chromatin at the old age.

Neuro endocrinology letters2003PMID: 14647006

Plain Language Summary

Epitalon activated chromatin in lymphocytes from individuals aged 76-80 by reactivating ribosomal genes, decondensing structural heterochromatin, and releasing genes that had been silenced by age-related DNA compaction. These findings demonstrate Epitalon's ability to reverse epigenetic aging changes at the chromosome level.

Abstract

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVES and design. We have studied the effect of synthetic peptide Epitalon on the activity of ribosomal genes, denaturation parameters of total heterochromatin, polymorphism of structural C-heterochromatin and the variability of facultative heterochromatin in cultured lymphocytes of persons aged 76-80 years. RESULTS: The obtained data demonstrate that Epitalon induces the activation of ribosomal genes, decondensation of pericentromeric structural heterochromatin and the release of genes repressed due to the age-related condensation of euchromatic chromosome regions. CONCLUSIONS: Epitalon has shown its ability to activate chromatin by modifying heterochromatin and heterochromatinized chromosome regions in the cells of older persons.

Authors

Khavinson, Vladimir Kh; Lezhava, Teimuraz A; Monaselidze, Jamlet R; Jokhadze, Tinatin A; Dvalishvili, Nana A; Bablishvili, Nino K; Trofimova, Svetlana V