title: Small changes, big effects: chromatin goes aging.
abstract: Aging is a complex trait and is influenced by multiple factors that are both intrinsic and extrinsic to the organism (Kirkwood et al. 2000; Knight 2000). Efforts to understanding the mechanisms that extend or shorten lifespan have been made since the early twentieth century. Aging is characteristically associated with a progressive decline in the overall fitness of the organism. Several studies have provided valuable information about the molecular events that accompany this process and include accumulation of nuclear and mitochondrial mutations, shortened and dysfunctional telomeres, oxidative damage of protein/DNA, senescence and apoptosis (Muller 2009). Clinical studies and work on model organisms have shown that there is an increased susceptibility to conditions such as neurological disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, degenerative syndromes and even cancers, with age (Arvanitakis et al. 2006; Lee and Kim 2006; Rodriguez and Fraga 2010).
authors.affiliation: B-306, Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai, 400 005, India.
authors.forename: Asmitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: Kushal Kr
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Ullas
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kolthur-Seetharam
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011371:Progeria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014898:Werner Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones