Chinese science is taking the spotlight this week with two monumental breakthroughs that promise to reshape the future of human longevity and neuroscience.
In two separate but equally impactful discoveries, researchers have not only potentially unlocked the secret to healthy ageing hidden in naked mole-rat DNA but have also achieved a first in observing neurons ‘kissing’ each other in real-time, thanks to cutting-edge tech.
The dual advancements underscore China’s growing prowess in world-class biomedical research and innovation.
The Genetic Key to Longevity: Naked Mole-Rat DNA
A team of researchers from Tongji University in Shanghai has uncovered a profound mechanism that may explain the extraordinary lifespan and disease resistance of the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber).
These subterranean rodents, which can live for nearly 40 years—about 10 times longer than similar-sized rodents—are naturally immune to cancer and exhibit remarkable resistance to age-related illnesses.
Headline Points
• Longevity Enzyme Identified: The secret lies in a unique, evolved version of the cGAS (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase) enzyme found in the mole-rat’s cells.
• Four Amino Acid Difference: Researchers discovered that just four subtle amino acid changes in the mole-rat’s cGAS, compared to the human and mouse versions, are responsible for the longevity effect.
• Enhanced DNA Repair: While the cGAS enzyme in humans can actually hinder DNA repair, the modified mole-rat version actively stabilizes the genome and promotes DNA repair, counteracting cellular aging and senescence.
• Translational Potential: When the mole-rat cGAS was engineered into lab-based mice and fruit flies, the animals showed fewer signs of aging, reduced frailty, and extended health spans, suggesting a clear potential pathway for future human anti-aging therapies.
The findings, recently published in the journal Science, reveal that the mole-rat has essentially “rewired” a cellular pathway that manages DNA damage.
This highly efficient repair capability, driven by the subtly altered cGAS protein, is believed to be the root cause of the species’ extended, disease-free lives.
Scientists are now focused on developing a way to safely activate or introduce this beneficial mechanism into human cells, with some early estimates suggesting that a successful translation could potentially add years to the healthy human lifespan.
Neuron ‘Kissing’ Caught on Camera
In a stunning achievement for neuroimaging, another team of Chinese scientists has used cutting-edge technology to achieve a world-first: high-resolution, multicolour deep-brain imaging in freely moving mice.
The unprecedented clarity and detail of the images are described as being able to observe intricate neural activity, which the media has poetically described as catching neurons ‘kissing’ each other.
Headline Points
• Technological Leap: The breakthrough relies on a newly developed, ultra-light miniature two-photon microscope developed by a team led by Professor Cheng Heping at Peking University.
• Real-Time, Deep Imaging: The microscope overcame a major challenge in brain science by achieving the deepest imaging currently known (over 820 micrometres) without damaging brain tissue, and crucially, it can track real-time dynamic changes in neuronal and synaptic activity in a non-restrained animal.
• Multicolour Capability: The key innovation was a new ultra-broadband hollow-core fibre that allowed the microscope to simultaneously capture red, green, and blue signals.
These different colours represent different biological indicators, such as neuronal activity, mitochondrial function, and plaque deposits.
• Applications for Brain Disease: The ability to simultaneously observe multiple factors at high resolution provides fresh, intricate insight into complex brain networks.
For instance, in mice with Alzheimer’s disease, the team was able to observe early abnormalities near amyloid plaques, offering a new avenue for studying disease progression and evaluating neuropharmaceuticals.
This new tool marks a significant advancement for the China Brain Project and is expected to rapidly accelerate the study of brain cognition, disease mechanisms, and the development of next-generation brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
The ability to watch the fundamental interactions of the brain’s 86 billion neurons with such detail opens the door to truly understanding the “wiring” of consciousness and neurological disorders.
