Why do we age, and what makes some of us live longer than
others? For decades, researchers have been trying to answer
these questions by elucidating the molecular causes of aging.
One of the most popular theories is that the accumulation of
oxygen radicals over time might be the underlying culprit in
aging. Oxygen radicals are chemically reactive molecules that
can damage cellular components such as lipids, proteins and
nucleic acids, resulting in "oxidative stress." The possible
link between oxidative stress and aging has led to the
proliferation of antioxidant products ranging from dietary
supplements to anti-aging creams. However, the role of oxidative
stress in aging is still controversial, and the effectiveness of
these antioxidants is debatable. In a paper to be published
online July 19 in the journal Molecular Cell, University of
Michigan molecular biologist Ursula Jakob and her co-workers
measured reactive oxygen species in worms and identified the
processes affected by oxidative stress. Using the sma