Leonard P. Guarente
Encyclopedia
Leonard P. Guarente is an American
biologist
best known for his research on life span extension in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. He is currently at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
where he is Novartis Professor of Biology.
Guarente, along with graduate students Mitch McVey and Matt Kaeberlein
, reported in 1999 that increased activity of the Sir2
protein slows aging in yeast mother cells. Sir2 is the founding member of the Sirtuin
family of enzymes. Guarente is recognized as the leading proponent of the hypothesis that caloric restriction slows aging by activation of Sirtuins. This hypothesis has been challenged by Kaeberlein and another former graduate student of Guarente's, Brian Kennedy
, both of whom are professors at the University of Washington
.
Leonard Guarente has written an autobiography titled "Ageless Quest: One Scientist's Search for Genes That Prolong Youth". The book was published in 2003 by Cold Spring Harbor Press.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
best known for his research on life span extension in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. He is currently at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
where he is Novartis Professor of Biology.
Guarente, along with graduate students Mitch McVey and Matt Kaeberlein
Matt Kaeberlein
Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is an American biologist and biogerontologist best known for his research on evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of aging...
, reported in 1999 that increased activity of the Sir2
Sir2
Sir2 was the first gene of the sirtuin genes to be found. It was found in budding yeast, and, since then, members of this highly conserved family have been found in nearly all organisms studied...
protein slows aging in yeast mother cells. Sir2 is the founding member of the Sirtuin
Sirtuin
Sirtuin or Sir2 proteins are a class of proteins that possess either histone deacetylase or mono-ribosyltransferase activity. Sirtuins regulate important biological pathways in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes...
family of enzymes. Guarente is recognized as the leading proponent of the hypothesis that caloric restriction slows aging by activation of Sirtuins. This hypothesis has been challenged by Kaeberlein and another former graduate student of Guarente's, Brian Kennedy
Brian K Kennedy
Brian K. Kennedy is an American biologist best known for his research on aging in yeast. Dr. Kennedy began his research in aging in the lab of Dr. Leonard at MIT....
, both of whom are professors at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
Leonard Guarente has written an autobiography titled "Ageless Quest: One Scientist's Search for Genes That Prolong Youth". The book was published in 2003 by Cold Spring Harbor Press.
See also
- Calorie restrictionCalorie restrictionCaloric restriction , or calorie restriction, is a dietary regimen that restricts calorie intake, where the baseline for the restriction varies, usually being the previous, unrestricted, intake of the subjects...