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Yellow dye 1 could be the key to immortality (nature.com)
17 points by lotusleaf1987 on April 4, 2011 | hide | past | favorite | 5 comments



In The Pipeline[1] covers this well. http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2011/04/01/live_long_an...

Researchers were speculating that if they could just bind something to defective proteins they could get them cleaned out of cells. Noting that they could see the defective structures because they were staining them yellow, they used their yellow stain. Instant 60% lifespan increase in (yellow) nematodes. If only nematodes could award Nobel prizes.

Other non-dye chemicals were found to work similarly. If this goes anywhere in the end, I don't think we need to fear being ruled by an upper class of chartreuse immortals.

[1] Best known around HN for the "Things I Won't Work With" series: http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/things_i_wont_work_with...



I don't understand: the article appears to report on the effect of Thioflavin T (ThT), which is not among the numerous synonyms for Sudan I that the wikipedia article lists. I followed the Sudan III and Sudan IV references, and didn't find anything there, either.

I am not a chemist; just curious.


Awesome linkbait + paywall

The intro paragraph was definitely written by a scientist


Great unsubstantiaed link-bait title + only $32.00 paywall for the secret to everlasting life. What fun the internet's become!




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