Mitigating Age-related Somatic Mutation Burden

Overview

Journal Trends Mol Med

Specialties General Medicine
Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Apr 30

PMID 37121869

Authors

Jan Vijg

Bjorn Schumacher

Abdulkadir Abakir

Michael Antonov

Chris Bradley

Alex Cagan

George Church

Vadim N Gladyshev

Vera Gorbunova

Alexander Y Maslov

Wolf Reik

Samim Sharifi

Yousin Suh

Kenneth Walsh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Genomes are inherently unstable and require constant DNA repair to maintain their genetic information. However, selective pressure has optimized repair mechanisms in somatic cells only to allow transmitting genetic information to the next generation, not to maximize sequence integrity long beyond the reproductive age. Recent studies have confirmed that somatic mutations, due to errors during genome repair and replication, accumulate in tissues and organs of humans and model organisms. Here, we describe recent advances in the quantitative analysis of somatic mutations in vivo. We also review evidence for or against a possible causal role of somatic mutations in aging. Finally, we discuss options to prevent, delay or eliminate de novo, random somatic mutations as a cause of aging.

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