Tongji Researchers Tie 4 cGAS Mutations to Naked Mole-Rats' 37-Year Lifespan
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 23
Tongji Researchers Tie 4 cGAS Mutations to Naked Mole-Rats' 37-Year Lifespan
1 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 23
Summary
Four amino acid substitutions in the cGAS protein appear to be a key reason naked mole-rats can live up to 37 years while resisting cancer and other age-related disease.
The mutations slow cGAS degradation after DNA damage, letting it boost homologous recombination repair through stronger interaction with FANCI and RAD50 instead of suppressing that pathway as human cGAS does.
Lab tests showed removing cGAS from naked mole-rat cells sharply increased DNA damage, while engineering the same four substitutions into fruit flies extended their lifespan.
The finding adds one mechanism to a broader longevity toolkit that already includes roughly 5 times more high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, stable telomeres and strong protein-quality control.
Human applications remain distant: researchers are considering small-molecule cGAS modulation or gene editing, but any clinical use is unlikely within the next decade despite estimates of a possible 12-year lifespan gain.
This rodent's genetic trick could add 12 years to human life. But does fixing DNA come at the cost of fighting disease?
Naked mole-rats boost a key gene to live longer. Why do some long-lived humans have a less active version of the same gene?
Four Key Mutations in Naked Mole-Rat cGAS Unlock Secrets of Longevity and DNA Repair: Implications for Human Aging and Cancer Therapy
Overview
In October 2025, researchers made a major breakthrough by uncovering why naked mole-rats live exceptionally long lives. They found that specific mutations in the cGAS protein help these animals maintain stable genomes and repair DNA more efficiently than other mammals. Unlike human and mouse cGAS, which can suppress DNA repair and lead to aging and cancer, the naked mole-rat’s version supports healthy DNA maintenance. This discovery not only explains the mole-rat’s longevity but also opens new possibilities for developing therapies to improve human health and delay aging by targeting similar molecular mechanisms.