TZAP: Scientists Discovered A Protein That Could Regulate Aging And Occurrence Of Cancer

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Aging is one of the most sought after research made by researchers. It seems like The Scripps Research Institute has found a breakthrough int he cellular aging which is the ultimate cause of aging. The scientists at the institute have found protein named TZAP.

TZAP determines how long the telomeres - a segment of chromosomes can be. According to the study, telomeres is related tot he lifespan of cells and hence, it defines the aging of the particular cells and also the occurrence of cancer which is the uncontrolled outburst of cells. As per the study stated in Scripps, telomeres represent the biological clock on the cell. Telomeres undergo repeated division and each time, some part of it loses and at one point, the size becomes too small that it cannot undergo division.

As researchers know that telomeres are important in the lifespan of a cell, lengthening it is one of the options they have curated to slow the aging process and that they could employ telomerase which is an enzyme to adjust the biological clock on cells. However, researchers have found that too long telomeres can further develop into cancer.

Science Mag explains the TZAP protein. TZAP is a protein which binds of chromosomes which can help in controlling the process of telomere trimming as it is known thereby making sure that the length of telomeres doesn't exceed much. According to Lazzerini Denchi, TZAP sets a cap on the number of division to be allowed.

The research came as surprise as earlier it was believed that after the discovery of Shelterin complex and telomerase enzyme, there are no other proteins that could exist. However, the study revealing the new TZAP protein took an another step towards aging and occurrence of cancer.

Authors of this study are Lazzerini Denchi, Li, Jill Tsai, Cristina Bartocci, Tatevik Simavorian, and others.