A team at Bar-Ilan University’s Sagol Healthy Human Longevity Center, led by Professor Haim Cohen, employs PHARAOH, a computational platform, to compare acetylation patterns across 107 mammalian proteomes. Contrasting long- and short-lived species, they pinpoint conserved protein modifications involved in DNA repair and metabolic regulation, offering insights into molecular interventions for extending healthspan and mitigating age-related diseases.

Key points

• Development of PHARAOH, a computational tool for analyzing protein acetylation across 107 mammalian species
• Identification of conserved acetylation sites linked to DNA repair and metabolic regulation in long-lived animals
• Observation of unique protein modification patterns in whales supporting tumor suppression pathways (Peto’s Paradox)
• Demonstration that modulating proteins such as SIRT6 can extend lifespan in model organisms
• Implication of targeted acetylation modulation for multifaceted treatment of age-related diseases

Why it matters: This study reveals conserved molecular modifications that underlie longevity across species, offering a new paradigm for targeting aging-associated pathways. By pinpointing specific acetylation sites linked to disease resistance and healthy lifespan, it opens avenues for developing broad-spectrum therapies to prevent multiple age-related conditions simultaneously.