“We know that rapamycin extends life expectancy via 2 mechanisms: increased autophagy and decreased activity of a protein called S6K. The system by which S6K extends life-span is uncertain,” says Sebastian Grönke, co-author of the study.Better immune function in old age thanks to endolysosomesThe researchers were able to reveal that a modified activity of S6K influences the endolysosomes.” When we suppressed S6K activity or the inflammatory signaling in the fat body, the flies lived longer, showed much better immune function at old age, and were able to clear bacterial infections more efficiently,” explains Pingze Zhang, very first author of the research study.
