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Physiology

An atypical switch for metabolism and ageing

Nature volume 542, pages 299–300 (2017)Cite this article

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The enzyme S6K1 phosphorylates the enzyme glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase to modulate metabolic activity and lifespan, revealing an atypical role for this synthetase as a target of a key metabolic signalling pathway. See Letter p.357

The observation a century ago that dietary restriction extends longevity in rodents1 led to the realization that metabolism and ageing have a close relationship. We now know that biological signalling networks that respond to nutrients and hormones modulate lifespan in a highly evolutionarily conserved manner2. The protein kinase S6K1 is a key target of one such network, the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signalling pathway, but the mechanisms downstream of this enzyme have remained obscure. Arif et al.3 show on page 357 that another enzyme, glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase (EPRS), is a direct target of S6K1, and has a previously unidentified role in fat metabolism and lifespan.

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Figure 1: A phosphorylation switch alters lipid uptake and longevity in mice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colin Selman is at the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.,

    Colin Selman

  2. Dominic J. Withers is at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.,

    Dominic J. Withers

Authors
  1. Colin Selman
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  2. Dominic J. Withers
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Correspondence to Dominic J. Withers.

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Selman, C., Withers, D. An atypical switch for metabolism and ageing. Nature 542, 299–300 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21500

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