SCIENCE REPORT - Aging Protein

SCIENCE REPORT
–
January 23, 2002: Aging Protein

By Jerilyn Watson

This is the VOA Special English Science Report.

A new study suggests that a protein that protects animals from cancer early in life may later cause extreme aging.
The protein is called p-fifty-three.

Scientists say p-fifty-three also helps prevent cancer in humans. It probably does this by halting growth or killing¹
damaged cells that might develop into tumors. However, recent research on mice also shows that increased
activity by the protein ages the animals later in life. It stops the natural renewal³ of their tissue and organs. The
study also showed that p-fifty-three caused other effects of aging.

Scientists at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, reported their work in the
publication “Nature.
”
Lawrence Donehower led a team that studied normal mice. The team
also studied mice that were accidentally created with unusually large amounts of p-fifty-three
in their cells.

The scientists observed that the mice with extra p-fifty-three aged² sooner than normal. Their

Too much p53?

bones became weak. Their muscles and organs became smaller. They lost weight. They lost
some of their hair. However, these mice did not develop cancerous tumors. By comparison, forty-five percent of
the normal animals developed tumors. Still, the normal mice lived an average twenty percent longer than the ones
with extra p-fifty-three.

“Nature”
magazine published the comments of two independent experts about the results of the Baylor team
research.

The experts said the study may mean that aging may be a product of the body ’s natural protection against
cancer. The study has special importance for scientists trying to develop medicines to treat the effects of aging.
The research raises the question if such treatments that suppress⁴ the p-fifty-three gene⁵ could make a person more
likely to get cancer.

The study results also may be important for young cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. These chemical

treatments help suppress tumors. They do this by attacking some of the genetic⁶ material in the body’s cells.
However, the process may increase the activity of the p-fifty-three protein. This might threaten recovered cancer
patients with aging sooner than normal. These young people might develop age -related health problems before
their time.

This VOA Special English Science Report was written by Jerilyn Watson.

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1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

4 suppress   

vt.压制，镇压，查禁，抑制，阻止

参考例句：

• He continued to suppress the people and serve the imperialists.他继续镇压人民，为帝国主义效劳。
• She was struggling to suppress her sobs.她拼命不让自己哭出来。

5 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

6 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。