About
The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a small, nearly hairless rodent native to eastern Africa, particularly Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti. 
 
Key findings

• Naked mole rats live nearly 30 to 40 years, unusually long for their size, making them the longest-lived rodent species known.
• Researchers discovered four specific amino acid changes in the enzyme cGAS that in naked mole rats enhance DNA repair, which likely contributes to their longevity.
• This unique cGAS enzyme functionality in naked mole rats prevents the breakdown of DNA repair mechanisms, aiding genome stability and reducing aging and cancer risks.
• Studies showed removing cGAS in naked mole rat cells caused DNA damage to accumulate, confirming its key role in DNA repair.
• Experiments with genetically engineered fruit flies expressing naked mole rat cGAS mutations lived longer than those with normal human cGAS.
• Findings provide insights for potential human therapies to boost DNA repair and combat age-related diseases by mimicking naked mole rat biology.
• A first genetically engineered lung cancer model in naked mole rats revealed their cancer resistance and complexity of tumor development, reflecting human cancer dynamics.
• Understanding naked mole rat DNA repair and cancer resistance could lead to novel anti-aging and cancer treatments for humans.

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