Principal Investigator Leonard Guarente
Project Website https://guarentelab.mit.edu
The Guarente Lab conducts research in two primary areas:
(1) Mechanisms of Aging: The Lab works on mechanisms of aging so that people lead healthier lives. Why do living things age? What genes influence longevity? Is it possible to extend youthfulness by means of genetic manipulation? Research analyzes these tantalizing questions and others in molecular detail.
(2) Muscular Dystrophy/Dysferlin: Dysferlin is a member of the “Ferlin” protein family. What they share is their feature of containing 6 Ca2+domains (Ca2+ binding domain is a protein structural domain involved in targeting proteins to cell membranes). These domains were originally identified in protein kinase C as being responsible for the calcium-dependent binding of phospholipids. Dysferlin plays a crucial role in skeletal muscle fiber membrane repair, and is key to maintaining the function and integrity of muscle tissue, especially after exercise or injury.