inflammation & autoimmunity

longevity

STN1

Are Your Chromosomes Protected From Damage? (OBFC1)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on October 9th, 2019

Humans have evolved a complex series of defense mechanisms to protect chromosomes from damage. If these defenses are not working correctly, they may potentially contribute to premature aging. Read on to learn all about OBFC1, the CST complex, and how they can affect age-related disease.

What is OBFC1?

The gene OBFC1, also known as STN1, codes for one of the proteins that makes up the CST complex, a structure that helps protect your chromosomes from damage.

If this complex isn’t working correctly, the telomeres could shorten too quickly. Some researchers believe that shortened telomeres may contribute to premature aging [R, R, R].

In multiple studies, abnormally short telomeres have been associated with age-related diseases, including [R, R]:

Coronary heart disease
Atherosclerosis
Heart failure
Heart attack (up to 3 times more common in people with shortened telomeres!) [R]
Diabetes
Many cancers
Osteoporosis

How Does the CST Complex Work?

The CST complex binds to the ends of telomeres, non-coding segments of DNA that prevent damage during cell reproduction. For a primer on how telomeres work, check out this post [R].

In summary, each one of your chromosomes has a cap made of non-coding DNA called a telomere. Telomeres are physical barriers between your genes and enzymes that could damage them during cell division. As we age, our telomeres gradually shorten; some researchers have used this fact to imply that people with longer telomeres may live longer lives [R].

The CST complex appears to have two major functions:

Physically protecting telomeres (and the rest of the chromosome) from damage [R]
Regulating the telomerase enzyme by both supporting its function & putting a limit on how often it can bind to DNA [R, R]

In short, the CST complex’s job is to make sure telomeres don’t get too short or too long [R, R].

The CST complex is a group of proteins that protect your chromosomes from damage. They make sure telomeres don’t get too short or too long. Poor CST complex function may lead to premature aging.

Your OBFC1 Results for Longevity

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs9419958
rs4387287
rs10786775

Frequency in Population

Population frequencies of these SNPs vary a lot between ethnic groups. Generally speaking, the long-telomere-associated alleles are much more common in African descendants than in any other group on the planet.

For example, though only 22% of all people have at least one ‘G’ (long telomere) allele at rs10786775, almost 60% of people of African descent do. Likewise, at rs4387287, 16% of all people have the long-telomere-associated ‘AA’ genotype, while 51% of African descendants do!

The reverse is true of European descendants, who tend to have fewer of the long-telomere-associated alleles: at rs4387287, only 2.4% of Europeans have the ‘AA’ genotype.

Recommendations

Recommendations to Lengthen Telomeres

Unfortunately, very little research has been done on any substances that may interact with OBFC1. However, because the CST complex stabilizes and protects telomeres, we can look at recommendations that increase telomere length to potentially counteract any harmful OBFC1 variants.

This uncertainty makes it especially important to talk to your physician about any strategies you want to use to protect yourself against premature aging due to shortened telomeres. Together, you can figure out the best strategies to extend your life.

Lifestyle

According to several studies, people who are under a lot of psychological stress have shorter telomeres than those who aren’t stressed or who manage stress well. Some stressors may be difficult or impossible to remove from your life, but if you can, you may want to try to de-stress with hobbies like meditation and yoga.

In a few human studies, people who took part in these activities had longer telomeres and improved age-related markers of health [R, R, R].

Diet

According to one study people who eat the Mediterranean diet may have longer telomeres than those who don’t. Some researchers and proponents of the Mediterranean also frequently claim that it can improve markers of aging and even extend lifespan [R, R, R].

EGCG, an active component in green tea, has been associated with longer telomeres in rats. According to some researchers, EGCG has also been linked to healthy aging, reduced incidence of cancer, and longevity [R, R].

Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting are controversial as a means of telomere extension. In animal studies, calorie restriction has increased telomere length, but human studies have been contradictory and additional research is required. Still, intermittent fasting and calorie restriction have been tentatively linked to longer lifespan, so they may be worth a try [R, R, R].

Supplements

A few supplements may lengthen telomeres. The first, and perhaps the most dramatic, is astragalus: one study suggests that an active component of astragalus directly stimulates telomerase activity, while a small human trial found that people who used astragalus supplements had longer telomeres than those who didn’t [R, R].

In mice, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation has been associated with longer telomeres; This is one of the reasons why NMN has a reputation as an anti-aging supplement, though additional research is required to pin down its effect on humans [R, R].

As mentioned above, EGCG (from green tea or as a supplement) may be positively linked to telomere length and lifespan [R, R].

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More inflammation & autoimmunity blogs

How to Combat Histamine Intolerance Through Genetics (DAO) Are You Genetically Vulnerable to High Brain Histamine, Migraines, or ADHD? (HNMT) How to Tell if You’re Lectin Sensitive Using Your Genetic Data (CNR1) Are You Sensitive to Lectins? (MTHFR) Fight Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Brain Fog (PARP1) Is This Gene Causing Your Autoimmune Problems? (PTPN22) Are You Genetically Susceptible to Post-Treatment Lyme? (ABCB1) A Key Genetic Player in Autoimmunity (HLA-B) Is This Inflammation Gene Reducing Your Intelligence? (TNFSF9) Can You Manage Allergies and Asthma by Balancing Methylation? (MTHFR)

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What is OBFC1? Your OBFC1 Results for Longevity

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