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Ribophagy plays a critical role in maintaining ribosome quality, yet how ribosomes are marked for autophagic recognition remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the methyltransferase Dot1/DOT1L as a conserved regulator of ribophagy that generates an "eat-me" signal through methylation of Rpl12, thereby regulating ribosome quality. Under nutrient deprivation, Dot1 methylates Rpl12 at K41 and K48 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enhancing its interaction with Atg11 and initiating ribophagy...

Vascular endothelial cell (VEC) senescence is a key contributor to vascular aging and atherosclerosis. Increasing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can encode functional micropeptides involved in cellular regulation. In this study, we investigated whether 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) delays endothelial senescence through an lncRNA-encoded peptide associated with autophagy. RNA sequencing was performed in H(2)O(2)-induced senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)...

The motion of liquid droplets on solid surfaces is commonly described by contact-line friction, which is generally assumed to increase monotonically with instantaneous velocity. However, such a velocity-only description cannot explain why static droplet friction can exceed dynamic friction or why contact-line friction can become velocity-weakening. Here, we demonstrate that contact-line friction depends jointly on sliding velocity and contact history. Using self-assembled alkylsilane monolayers...

Most vertebrates and insects undergo senescence: as they age, their rate of mortality increases while reproduction declines. We present data from a 34-y study on 3,285 colonies of known age in the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, that show the reverse pattern, negative senescence, in which mortality decreases and reproduction increases with age. Theoretical models have identified indeterminate growth and a lack of reproductive cost to growth as the key traits favoring the...

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is an early feature of brain aging, but the endothelial mechanisms preserving barrier resilience remain unclear. Although we have reported α-synuclein (SNCA) supports vascular endothelial homeostasis, its role in the brain microvascular endothelium is unknown. Because SNCA loss suppresses eNOS/NO signaling and promotes endothelial β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) induction, we investigated whether senescence-associated SNCA decline...

After more than 35 years of research, scientists have uncovered surprising clues about what really drives Lyme disease risk. Contrary to longstanding assumptions, deer populations appear less important than mice, which can fuel a 40% increase in tick numbers the following year. Even acorn production can predict tick population surges two years in advance, while extreme temperatures may be far less deadly to ticks than scientists once believed.

A surprising new study from UCLA suggests that a naturally occurring molecule could help breast cancer survivors overcome the frustrating brain fog and exhaustion that can linger long after treatment ends. Researchers found that women taking an oxaloacetate supplement for eight weeks experienced substantial improvements in memory, concentration, mental clarity, and fatigue.

New findings demonstrate AI’s aptitude for identifying technical flaws in studies where medical decisions are on the line

A massive study of more than 120,000 older adults suggests that common osteoporosis drugs may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by up to 24%. The surprising findings raise the possibility that medications already used to strengthen bones could also help protect the aging brain.

Brain organoids offer highly efficient processing—if researchers can learn how to harness their power