Identification of activators of methionine sulfoxide reductases A and B.

The methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) family of enzymes has been shown to protect cells against oxidative damage. The two major Msr enzymes, MsrA and MsrB, can repair oxidative damage to proteins due to reactive oxygen species, by reducing the methionine sulfoxide in proteins back to methionine. A role of MsrA in animal aging was first demonstrated in Drosophila melanogaster where transgenic flies over-expressing recombinant bovine MsrA had a markedly extended life span.