AI-Based Platform Revolutionizes Search for Age-Defying Molecules

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

Researchers from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Delhi have developed AgeXtend, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based platform. The platform accelerates the discovery of molecules with geroprotective properties (age-defying characteristics), marking a significant milestone in longevity research.

AgeXtend:

Researchers from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi).
AgeXtend is an AI-driven platform designed to identify molecules that promote healthy ageing by targeting biological mechanisms associated with ageing.
Utilizes bioactivity data from known Gero protectors to predict the Gero protective potential of new compounds.
Key Features:
- Prediction of Gero protective properties.
- Toxicity evaluation.
- Identification of target proteins and mechanisms of action.
Demonstrated success in identifying compounds like metformin and taurine as longevity enhancers, even when excluded from training data.
Screened around 1 billion compounds to identify promising candidates.
Tested the selected compounds on yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans, and human cell models to validate their effects.
Explores the role of human microbiome-derived metabolites in regulating cellular senescence.
Enhances understanding of previously unknown mechanisms influencing ageing.
AgeXtend represents a breakthrough in the integration of AI and biology for therapeutic discoveries.

Gero protective Property:

A geroprotective property refers to the ability of a substance, compound, or intervention to slow down, prevent, or reverse aspects of the biological ageing process, thereby promoting longevity and improving health span.
Gero protectors typically target specific mechanisms associated with ageing at the cellular, molecular, or systemic levels.
Mechanisms of Action:
- Delay cellular senescence (the process where cells stop dividing and accumulate).
- Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Enhance autophagy (cellular cleanup processes).
- Improve mitochondrial function and energy production.
Applications:
- Treatment of age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular issues, and metabolic disorders.
- Extension of health span (the period of life spent in good health) rather than just lifespan.