New Enzyme Shows Promise in Reversing Age‑Related Protein Damage

Researchers have engineered an enzyme that can break down advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that accumulate in long‑lived proteins as organisms age. The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrated chemical reversal of carboxymethyl‑lysine (CML) – a common AGE – and provided proof‑of‑concept that deglycation can restore tissue biochemistry.

The enzyme was tested in laboratory models, where it reduced AGE‑induced stiffness in collagen and improved cellular function. Lead author Aaron Cravens, founder and CEO of Revel Pharmaceuticals, said the work shows that “you can actually reverse some of these changes” at a structural level, though further work is needed to confirm biomechanical recovery in living tissue.

The findings are early‑stage and not yet applicable to clinical treatments, but they suggest a possible route toward mitigating age‑related diseases such as inflammation, diabetes, heart disease and neurodegeneration by targeting molecular damage rather than symptoms.