–P16/Ink4a, a tumor suppressor
gene, becomes increasingly active with age in mammals. It is a known mediator of cell senescence
and biomarker of aging as
well as a possible promoter of mammalian aging. P16/Ink4a works together with three other genes to articulate a process
of simultaneously protecting
against cancers and shutting down adult stem cell function and regenerative capacity in aging tissues.
–aging-related decline of efficacy of DNA repair machinery might possibly result from promoter methylation of the Mms22 gene, resulting in increasing
susceptibility to oxidative damage with age.
–The P66Shc
gene, associated with longevity in
mammals, appears to be silenced
through some combination of deactylation (resulting in protein folding) and cytosine methylation.
•
Programmed
Epigenomic Changes-
Aging-related
Changes in DNA affecting gene expression