Investigating the metabolic effects of Ras inhibition during ageing

代谢功能障碍已被确定为衰老的一个关键标志。我们的初步数据表明，RAS信号--一种公认的衰老调节因子--也可能在脂质代谢中发挥重要作用。在这个项目中，我们将使用果蝇作为一个简单的模型来研究RAS活性、脂代谢和衰老之间的这种联系。我们将确定脂肪代谢如何在正常衰老和对RAS抑制的反应中发生变化。这些信息将被用来确定可能调节RAS抑制的健康衰老效应的代谢途径。我们将测试当我们降低RAS活性时观察到的有益的衰老变化是否与使用遗传工具操纵其活性的这些代谢途径的活性变化直接相关。总的来说，这些研究将帮助我们更好地理解代谢功能障碍和衰老之间的复杂关系。这一知识将使我们能够确定新的药物目标或饮食干预措施，以改善与年龄相关的健康，最终导致新的治疗方法，以促进整个生命过程中的人类健康和福祉。

Metabolic dysfunction has been identified as a key hallmark of ageing. Our preliminary data suggests that Ras signalling - an established ageing regulator - may also play an important role in lipid metabolism. In this project, we will use Drosophila as a simple model to investigate this link between Ras activity, lipid metabolism and ageing. We will define how lipid metabolism changes during normal ageing and in response to Ras inhibition. This information will be used to identify metabolic pathways that could be mediating the healthy ageing effects of Ras inhibition. We will test whether the beneficial changes in ageing that we observe when we reduce Ras activity are directly related to changes in the activity of these metabolic pathways using genetic tools to manipulate their activity. Collectively, these studies will help us to better understand the complex relationship between metabolic dysfunction and ageing. This knowledge will enable us to identify new drug targets or dietary interventions to improve age-related health ultimately leading to new treatments to promote human health and well-being across the life-course.