Teitell Lab Collaborates on Study of Metabolite that Extends Lifespan in Worms

Los Angeles – The Teitell lab collaborated with Dr. Jing Huang of the UCLA Department of Molecular Pharmacology to study the role of metabolites on lifespan extension. Alpha-ketoglutarate, available in some dietary supplements, extends the lifespan in the nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, by interfering with cellular energy production and mimicking the effects of severe calorie restriction. The results, published in Nature, suggest that α-ketoglutarate might provide a way to increase longevity one day.