When
Where
Presenter Details
Nan Hao, Professor of Biology, UCSD
Seminar Information
Aging is a major risk factor for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this seminar, I will discuss our recent work combining high-throughput single-cell measurement technologies with mathematical modeling to uncover how intracellular molecular networks drive aging. Using microfluidics and time-lapse microscopy, we discovered that isogenic yeast cells follow two distinct aging trajectories, governed by a toggle switch between the lysine deacetylase Sir2 and the heme-activated protein (HAP) complex. By rewiring this circuit, we engineered an autonomous genetic clock that generates oscillations between aging states, delaying aging commitment and extending cellular lifespan. These findings demonstrate how systems and synthetic biology can be harnessed to control aging processes and design rational strategies to slow aging.
Seminar Host
Dr. Andrew Capaldi (MCB)