Skeletal muscle is integral to metabolic regulation and the aging process, serving as a critical site for energy metabolism through the catabolism of glycogen and fatty acids. It also secretes myokines—endocrine factors essential for regulating systemic inflammation and metabolic health. The age-associated decline in muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, directly compromises bodily functions and metabolic rate, thereby accelerating senescence across various biological systems. Interventions such as targeted exercise regimens and nutritional modifications can effectively mitigate the progression of muscle aging. Consequently, these interventions facilitate the metabolic regulation of skeletal muscle, which in turn exerts a decelerative effect on the aging of other tissues and organs, thus promoting overall health and longevity.

In our research, we adopt a cross-species, multi-omics approach to elucidate the factors that govern metabolism and sarcopenia. Our studies across multiple species have led to the identification of a novel class of channel proteins, aerolysin-like pore-forming proteins, which have been shown to counteract malnutrition-induced excessive protein degradation (as reported in PNAS 2014; iScience 2023; FASEB Journal 2023). Additionally, our research has uncovered that the polymer poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate can significantly delay the onset of sarcopenia, thereby extending lifespan at the individual level (SMM 2023). From natural products, we have also identified a compound, handelin, which can delay the progression of sarcopenia and extend individual lifespan (JCSM 2023; Biogerontology 2022). Currently, we are collaborating with Professor Tian's research group, engaging in the discovery of new genes that regulate metabolism and retard the aging process. Leveraging multi-omics data, we continue to identify and characterize novel compounds that promise to slow the aging process, with a particular focus on ameliorating skeletal muscle aging and enhancing resistance to sarcopenia. This interdisciplinary and integrative research approach highlights the potential of molecular and genetic insights to translate into therapeutic strategies for aging and associated metabolic disorders.