Cellular Signalling

Researchers from Osaka University found that knockdown of the Adaptor Protein Complex 2, Alpha 1 Subunit (AP2A1) rejuvenates aging cells, while AP2A1 overexpression ages young cells. AP2A1 appears to mediate these effects by promoting integrin β1 translocation along enlarged stress fibers, which in turn creates large cell–substrate adhesions and strengthens cellular anchoring to the substrate, potentially explaining how senescent cells maintain their large size.