{"id":694417,"date":"2025-10-12T10:15:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T07:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/dna-repair-mechanisms-help-explain-why-naked-mole-rats-live-a-long-life\/"},"modified":"2025-10-12T10:15:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T07:15:13","slug":"dna-repair-mechanisms-help-explain-why-naked-mole-rats-live-a-long-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/dna-repair-mechanisms-help-explain-why-naked-mole-rats-live-a-long-life\/","title":{"rendered":"DNA repair mechanisms help explain why naked mole-rats live a long life"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a412bf7d17e3\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a412bf7d17e3\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/dna-repair-mechanisms-help-explain-why-naked-mole-rats-live-a-long-life\/#Testing_longevity\" >Testing longevity<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/naked-mole-rat.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/naked-mole-rat.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) eating. Credit: Ltshears - Trisha M Shears, public domain, via Wikimedia\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/naked-mole-rat.jpg\" alt=\"naked mole-rat\" title=\"Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) eating. Credit: Ltshears - Trisha M Shears, public domain, via Wikimedia\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) eating. Credit: Ltshears &#8211; Trisha M Shears, public domain, via Wiki<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Naked mole-rats are one of nature&#8217;s most extraordinary creatures. These burrowing rodents can live for up to 37 years, around ten times longer than relatives of a similar size. But what is the secret to their extreme longevity? How are they able to delay the decay and decline that befalls other rodents? The answer, at least in part, is due to a switch in a common protein that boosts DNA repair, according to new research <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/science.adp5056\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in the journal <i><a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>One of the main causes of aging in all animals, including humans, is the accumulation of damaged DNA, our genetic instruction manual. When this damage is not fixed, it leads to defective cells, damaged proteins and eventually a breakdown in the body&#8217;s functions.<\/p>\n<p>To understand how the naked mole-rat is so resistant to DNA damage, a study led by researchers at Tongji University in China focused on a common protein called cGAS (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase). In most mammals, cGAS interferes with DNA repair, but the researchers suspected it may have evolved a different function in the long-living rats.<\/p>\n<p>The team compared the cGAS protein in naked mole-rats to that of humans and mice and identified four changes in amino acids (building blocks of cGAS) that flip the protein&#8217;s function so that it enhances a cell&#8217;s ability to repair damaged DNA.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/dna-repair-mechanisms.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/dna-repair-mechanisms.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Divergent cGAS function in naked mole-rats. Credit: &lt;i&gt;Science&lt;\/i&gt; (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/science.adp5056\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/dna-repair-mechanisms.jpg\" alt=\"DNA repair mechanisms help to explain why naked mole-rats live a long life\" title=\"Divergent cGAS function in naked mole-rats. Credit: Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/science.adp5056\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Divergent cGAS function in naked mole-rats. Credit: <i>Science<\/i> (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/science.adp5056<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Testing_longevity\"><\/span>Testing longevity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To test this, the scientists inserted the mole-rat&#8217;s unique cGAS into human and mouse cells in the lab. The result was a significant boost in the cells&#8217; ability to repair their DNA and a reduction in cellular aging. Then, they engineered fruit flies to produce naked mole-rat cGAS and found that they lived around ten days longer than a control group of fruit flies that couldn&#8217;t produce cGAS. Finally, they used gene therapy to give the naked mole-rat cGAS to mice. These treated rodents were less frail, had less gray hair and there were fewer old, worn out cells in different organs than mice that didn&#8217;t receive the gene.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This alteration confers naked mole-rat cGAS with a greater capacity to stabilize the genome, counteract cellular senescence and organ aging, and promote extended life span and health span,&#8221; commented the researchers.<\/p>\n<p>Research of this nature makes it tempting to wonder if it could be used to increase longevity in humans by modifying amino acids in cGAS. Well, possibly, but there is a long way to go before that could h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>en. In the meantime, scientists have a new target for developing therapies to treat age-related diseases.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__support\">\n<p>\n    Written for you by our author <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/editorial-team\/#authors\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Arnold<\/a>, edited by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/editorial-team\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gaby Clark<\/a>, and fact-checked and reviewed by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/editorial-team\/\" target=\"_blank\">Robert Egan<\/a>\u2014this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive.<br \/>\n    If this reporting matters to you,<br \/>\n    please consider a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/donate\/?utm_source=story&amp;utm_medium=story&amp;utm_campaign=story\">donation<\/a> (especially monthly).<br \/>\n    You&#8217;ll get an <b>ad-free<\/b> account as a thank-you.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYu Chen et al, A cGAS-mediated mechanism in naked mole-rats potentiates DNA repair and delays aging, <i>Science<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1126\/science.adp5056\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1126\/science.adp5056<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \u00a9 2025 Science X Network\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDNA repair mechanisms help explain why naked mole-rats live a long life (2025, October 12)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 12 October 2025<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-10-dna-mechanisms-naked-mole-rats.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-10-dna-mechanisms-naked-mole-rats.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) eating. Credit: Ltshears &#8211; Trisha M Shears, public domain, via Wikimedia Naked mole-rats are one of nature&#8217;s most extraordinary creatures. These burrowing rodents can live for up to 37 years, around ten times longer than relatives of a similar size. But what is the secret to their extreme longevity? How are&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":694418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/naked-mole-rat.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-694417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=694417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694417\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/694418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=694417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=694417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=694417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}