Aging and age-related diseases

Abstract

Various mechanisms have been proposed, and a molecular perspective is much awaited to account for the observed phenomena regarding aging and death. Valine and glycine are overrepresented in numerous causative factors of heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as in proteins of SARS-CoV-2 strains causing the current pandemic. Both amino acids have long carbonyl bond lengths and thus possess affinities to divalent cations, promoting the formation of insoluble salts. The insoluble and stiff calcium oxalate is stressful to cells and triggers cell senescence. Consequently valine plus glycine content can serve as a ticking aging clock as longevity genes generally encode proteins rich in valine plus glycine. Given the common characteristics of the longevity gene products, aging process may be intervened by diet, exercise and lifestyle.