Research: Molecular ageing

About our research

The ageing process represents a physiological and non-pathological multifactorial process. It involves a set of key genes and molecular mechanisms being triggered by different endogenous and exogenous factors.

Ageing is a major risk factor in the development of a variety of diseases. We study many of the key mechanisms, including:

• telomeres
• advanced glycation end products (AGEs)
• free radicals
• DNA damage
• epigenetics and genetics

AGEs

AGEs are proteins or lipids that become glycated as a result of exposure to sugars.

We investigate these factors in ageing and in the development of many age-related diseases - such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and dementia - as well as their role in fertility.

Reproductive ageing

Male and female reproductive ageing is characterised by a decline of both quantity and quality of oocytes and sperm that leads to an age-dependent loss of fertility.

We investigate ageing and environmental factors impacting semen parameters, including:

• sperm DNA integrity
• changes in epigenetic markers that may have transgenerational effects
• alterations of sperm function

Epigenetics

Epigenetics involves multiple processes such as DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, and noncoding RNAs to regulate gene expression.

Epigenetic mechanisms are important in ageing and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

We are particularly interested in the epigenetic regulation of genes in dementia and age-related cognitive decline in human tissues and animal models.

Telomeres

Telomere shortening is thought to play a central role in the ageing process. Using human cells and yeast strains, we investigate telomere changes during ageing and the role of proteins that are important in their stability.

Ubiquitination

Ubiquitination is the process by which ubiquitin molecules are added to a protein sequence. This has vital roles in cellular processes including protein degradation, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and gene expression.

Dysregulation in ubiquitination processes can lead to protein accumulation and aggregation. This is pathologically important in the development of a wide range of age-related diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia.

We study the processes involved in the multiple enzymatic steps in ubiquitination focussing on the role of key regulatory proteins and their binding partners.