Abstract
Progressive DNA damage and mitochondrial decline are both considered to be prime instigators of natural ageing. Traditionally, these two pathways have been viewed largely in isolation. However, recent studies have revealed a molecular circuit that directly links DNA damage to compromised mitochondrial biogenesis and function via p53. This axis of ageing may account for both organ decline and disease development associated with advanced age and could illuminate a path for the development of relevant therapeutics.
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Acknowledgements
The authors apologize to all their colleagues whose work could not be cited. Part of the work described in this article was supported by a fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (to E.S.) and by R01 and U01 grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute and the Robert A. and Renee E. Belfer Foundation. R.A.D. was supported by an Ellison Foundation for Medical Research Senior Scholar and an American Cancer Society Research Professor award.
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Sahin, E., DePinho, R. Axis of ageing: telomeres, p53 and mitochondria. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 13, 397–404 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3352
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3352
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