[The structural changes in chromatin at different levels of its organization during aging]

Abstract

The data about changes in the molecular organization of the cell nucleus during aging are reviewed. Changes in DNA primary and secondary structure include deletions of some sequences, changes in base methylation pattern and the increasing number of DNA breaks. Conditions underlying poor reproducibility of the results obtained in corresponding experiments are discussed. Changes observed in the nucleosomal and supranucleosomal chromatin structure reflect either its increasing compactization or the loss the nucleosomal structure during aging. The data about the increased DNA superhelicity and topoisomerase activity in aging organisms contradict the accepted views about age-related decrease in chromatin activity. It is suggested that the gene activity in aging organisms is specifically altered rather than generally decreased. The data are presented about the ways of preventing or reverting the age-related changes in chromatin structure.