Targeting Isoprenylcysteine Methylation Ameliorates Disease in a Mouse Model of Progeria

Abstract

Methylation and Methuselah? Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and other prelamin A–associated progeroid disorders arise when farnesylated and methylated forms of prelamin A accumulate at the nuclear envelope. Ibrahim et al. (p. 1330 , published online 16 May; see the Perspective by Johnson ) show that reducing the activity of the isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT) mislocalizes prelamin A, triggers prelamin A–dependent AKT-mTOR signaling, and eliminates disease phenotypes in 30-week-old progeria model mice. Reduced ICMT expression increased the proliferation and delayed the premature senescence of progeria model mouse fibroblasts and cells from children with HGPS.