In News:

• AgeXtend is developed by researchers at Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology – Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) to rapidly identify age-defying compounds, known as geroprotectors, to promote healthy aging.

Key Features of AgeXtend:

• What is AgeXtend?
  • An AI-based platform designed to discover compounds with geroprotective (anti-aging) properties.
• Objective: To accelerate the identification of molecules promoting longevity by reducing the time and effort compared to conventional research methods.
• Development: Developed by researchers from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Delhi.
• Working Mechanism:
  • Scans over 1.1 billion compounds to predict, analyze, and validate molecules with anti-aging potential.
  • Utilizes machine learning to determine efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action.
  • Experimental validation conducted using yeast, worms (C. elegans), and human cell models.
• Significance:
  • The largest study on longevity, including compounds from commercial drugs, FDA-approved drugs, Ayurvedic, and Chinese medicine.
  • Provides a scientific rationale for identifying geroprotective compounds, aiding targeted research.
  • Open-source code and data promote collaboration and allow commercial exploration.

Platform Capabilities:

• AI Analysis:
  • Uses bioactivity data from existing geroprotectors to predict new compounds with similar properties.
  • Evaluates geroprotective potential, toxicity, and identifies target proteins and mechanisms of action for accuracy and safety.
• Unique Feature: Explains why a compound is considered geroprotective, revealing underlying mechanisms.
• Example Validation: Successfully identified benefits of metformin and taurine without prior knowledge, confirming the platform’s predictive power.
• Study Scale: The study involved scanning over 1.1 billion molecules, making it the largest study on longevity to date.

Open-Source and Commercial Use:

• Availability:
  • The code and data are available as open-source for researchers and students. Commercial access is available for a fee.
  • A Python package for AgeXtend is available via pip on pypi.org.
• Further Collaboration: The researchers have reached out to pharma companies to further investigate promising compounds.
• Exploring Natural Compounds: AgeXtend also explores natural compounds from the human microbiome, investigating their role in controlling cell aging.