"Uncovering the Anti-Aging Secrets of Plant Leaves"

Scientists at UC Riverside have discovered a significant link between the Golgi body, an organelle in plant cells, and the aging process. They found that the COG protein, which manages the movement of sacs within the Golgi body, plays a crucial role in plant aging by assisting in glycosylation. When plants were modified to lack the COG protein and deprived of light, they exhibited accelerated aging symptoms, which were rapidly reversed upon reintroducing the protein. This unexpected finding could provide valuable insights into human aging and age-related diseases, as the Golgi body is present in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans.