Mayo Clinic Discovers DNA Tool to Identify 'Zombie Cells' Linked to Aging and Disease
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed synthetic DNA molecules called aptamers that can selectively tag senescent "zombie" cells linked to aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. A chance conversation between two graduate students sparked the breakthrough, which could eventually enable targeted drug therapies for age-related conditions.
Serendipitous Breakthrough in Aging Research
Researchers discovered that tiny synthetic DNA molecules called aptamers can selectively attach to senescent "zombie cells," which are linked to aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. These cells — also known as "zombie cells" — stop dividing but don't die off as cells typically do. They turn up in numerous diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease, and in the process of aging.
How Aptamers Work
Aptamers are short strands of synthetic DNA that naturally fold into complex three dimensional shapes. Those shapes allow them to attach to specific proteins found on the surfaces of cells. Working with mouse cells, the scientists screened more than 100 trillion random DNA sequences and identified several rare aptamers capable of binding to proteins associated with senescent cells. Once attached, the aptamers effectively flagged the cells for identification.
From Graduate Student Conversation to Major Discovery
Keenan Pearson, Ph.D. -- who recently earned his degree from Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences -- had been studying how aptamers might be used against brain cancer or neurodegenerative diseases while working with Dr. Maher. Elsewhere on campus, Sarah Jachim, Ph.D., -- who was also completing graduate research at the time -- was studying aging and senescent cells in the laboratory of Nathan LeBrasseur, Ph.D. The two students crossed paths during a scientific event and started discussing their thesis projects.
Future Clinical Potential
Despite over 30 clinical trials of senolytic drugs—compounds designed to kill zombie cells—scientists have not yet produced a single therapy approved for human use. The core bottleneck has been detection. Without a dependable way to identify senescent cells in living tissue, every drug candidate risks destroying healthy cells alongside its targets. Because they bind only to surface proteins present on senescent cells, they could in principle act as molecular delivery vehicles—guiding senolytic drugs to zombie cells while bypassing healthy tissue entirely.