"Unveiling the Genetic Connection: How Exercise, Cold Tolerance, and Cellular Maintenance are Linked in Flies"
A study published in PNAS has identified a gene, called Iditarod, in fruit flies that is involved in exercise endurance, cold tolerance, and cellular maintenance. The researchers found that flies lacking the Iditarod gene had impaired exercise endurance and were unable to tolerate cold temperatures. The gene is believed to be involved in the autophagy process, which helps clean the cellular environment by removing damaged organelles or toxic byproducts. The researchers also discovered a similar gene, FNDC5, in humans, which is a precursor to the protein irisin known to be involved in exercise benefits and adaptation to cold temperatures. This study suggests that this gene family plays an important role in these physiological processes across different species.