![从池塘里最不起眼的生物中,这位女性诺奖得主弄清了人类衰老之谜](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
Elizabeth H. Blackburn博士。图片来源:药明康德内容团队制作
“很少有科学家像布莱克本博士那样,通过她在科学上的成就,以及她在领导、服务和正直的品质方面的表现,赢得了科学界同行们的钦佩和尊重。”——欧文·M·雅各布斯(Irwin M. Jacobs)博士,索尔克生物研究所(Salk Institute)董事会主席
我们为什么会衰老,以及我们是怎么在不知不觉中衰老的是困扰着人类最古老、最大的问题之一。无数科学家为了找到衰老的原因前赴后继,而有这样一位女性科学家,她凭借着满腔好奇深入到了生命的最微观层面,敲开了衰老领域的一扇新大门。她的发现不仅改变了我们对衰老的理解,还让我们在抗击癌症、延缓衰老,甚至延长人类生命方面看到了曙光。
在今天的这篇文章中,为大家介绍这位杰出的科学家——伊丽莎白·布莱克本(Elizabeth H. Blackburn)博士。
1948年11月26日,伊丽莎白·布莱克本出生在澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚州的小城霍巴特(Hobart)的一个医学世家。从父母到叔叔阿姨,布莱克本的上一辈们几乎都在医学领域深耕。布莱克本小时候最喜欢的就是和小动物们打交道,在没有条件饲养宠物的时候,她就在家后院寻找蚂蚁、在海滩上搜寻水母带回家,或者在玻璃瓶里养蝌蚪。当搬家后有花园可以饲养宠物后,她几乎把包括猫、狗、鱼、鸟等在内的所有常见宠物养了个遍。小布莱克本的童年充满了对生物世界的好奇和探索,正是这样的童年经历,激发了她日后对生物学的浓厚兴趣。除了喜欢小动物,布莱克本小时候还十分崇拜居里夫人。那本居里夫人的传记被她反复研读了数十遍,如痴如醉。居里夫人的故事使小布莱克本对科学有了一种浪漫而高尚的理解。她认为,科学研究不仅是对知识的探索,更是一种对真理的追求。因此,她十几岁时就明确了自己的志向——成为一名科学家。
为了实现这一目标,当她所在的女子学校没有提供物理课程时,她选择在晚上去公立高中补习物理。最终,布莱克本以优异的成绩如愿进入了墨尔本大学就读生物化学专业,并在大学期间进一步加深了自己对生物化学研究的热爱——这门学科能够对生物过程中最小的单元提供完整和精确的理解,这使她深深着迷。
1970年,在布莱克本完成了本科的学业后,墨尔本大学生物化学系主任弗兰克·希尔德(Frank Hird)给她提供了一个在他的研究实验室做硕士研究生的机会,以研究氨基酸代谢。在希尔德教授的教导下,布莱克本充分体会到了研究也可以充满乐趣和美感——希尔德教授说,他认为每个实验都应该像莫扎特的奏鸣曲那样美丽而简洁。在学生的前途问题上,希尔德教授也不遗余力地为布莱克本提供了帮助。在他的引荐下,布莱克本成功被英国剑桥大学录取为博士生,并加入了1958年诺贝尔化学奖得主弗雷德·桑格(Fred Sanger)教授的分子生物学实验室。
在剑桥,布莱克本很快便进入状态开始了她的博士论文研究。通过努力,她熟悉了DNA测序技术,并成功分析了噬菌体φX174的核酸组成。1975年,布莱克本顺利获得了剑桥大学分子生物学博士学位。在桑格教授的实验室里,布莱克本充分意识到了DNA序列中潜在的巨大可能性,DNA序列世界的大门正在她的面前徐徐打开。但那时的她未曾设想,她日后深入探索的领域将对人类衰老研究产生多么巨大的影响。
好奇心驱使,发现端粒对染色体的保护作用
机缘巧合下,布莱克本博士毕业后进入了美国细胞生物学家和遗传学家约瑟夫·高尔(Joseph Gall)在耶鲁大学的实验室进行博士后研究。高尔博士的研究主要涉及染色体的结构和复制,布莱克本博士与他一起对一种在池塘中随处可见的单细胞藻类——四膜虫(Tetrahymena)的染色体顶端进行了测序。他们发现,在染色体顶端存在一种重复的DNA结构,这种结构被称为端粒(telomeres),但它具体有什么作用,没人能说清楚。
1978年,布莱克本成为了加利福尼亚大学伯克利分校的分子生物学助理教授,在巨大的好奇心的驱使下,布莱克本博士一门心思扑在了端粒功能的研究上。到了1980年,她遇到了同样在研究端粒并对她的研究感到好奇的杰克·索斯塔克(Jack Szostak)博士。两人一拍即合,立即决定利用酵母和四膜虫作为模式生物来研究端粒的功能。
![从池塘里最不起眼的生物中,这位女性诺奖得主弄清了人类衰老之谜](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
在进一步的探索后俩人发现,端粒是染色体末端的特殊非编码DNA部分,可以防止染色体被分解。用一个形象的比喻来说,端粒在染色体上的作用就像是鞋带末端的塑料尖端。每当细胞分裂时,所有的遗传信息都需要复制一遍,但由于DNA复制中存在的缺陷,DNA每复制一次,端粒就会磨损和缩短一截。端粒通过牺牲自身来保护编码DNA免受细胞分裂期间发生的磨损。当端粒磨损殆尽时,它就会向细胞发出信号,表示编码DNA处于风险之中,是时候让细胞死亡了。基于这项研究,布莱克本博士得出结论,端粒的缩短是细胞衰老走向死亡过程中的一个关键现象。
在得到这个事实后,另一个关键性的问题接踵而来——延长端粒是不是就能抵抗衰老了?为了解答这个问题,布莱克本博士开展了一系列研究来探索延长端粒的方法。1984年,她和她的研究生卡罗尔·格雷德(Carol Greider)发现了她做梦都没想到会存在的东西——端粒酶。
在研究四膜虫的过程中,布莱克本博士和格雷德发现了一种奇怪的现象,这种简单的单细胞生物似乎永远不会衰老和死亡——随着时间的推移,这些细胞的端粒并没有缩短,有时甚至会变得更长。科学家敏锐的直觉告诉她,这其中一定有什么她们不知道的东西在发挥作用。经过两人近一年的努力,她们最终发现了一个前所未有的酶——端粒末端转移酶(telomere terminal transferase),后来被简称为端粒酶。这种酶可以将新的DNA序列添加到染色体的末端并与端粒蛋白质结合,从而稳定染色体的结构。1985年,布莱克本博士和格雷德将她们的发现整理发表在了著名的学术期刊Cell上。
![从池塘里最不起眼的生物中,这位女性诺奖得主弄清了人类衰老之谜](data:image/png;base64,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)
端粒延伸模型。图片来源:参考资料[6]
在后续的研究中,她们在四膜虫上证实了当端粒酶被去除时,这些细胞会逐渐消耗殆尽,最终死亡。这意味着,端粒酶有可能可以通过减缓、防止或甚至逆转由细胞分裂引起的端粒缩短,从而抵抗衰老或避免细胞死亡。这个发现使得端粒在细胞衰老研究中的地位进一步得到了提升,人们将从一个全新的视角来看待端粒——由于人类的染色体上同样存在着端粒,或许这种小小的酶有望成为人类延缓衰老的关键所在。
2009年,为了表彰布莱克本博士、卡罗尔·格雷德博士和杰克·索斯塔克博士在“发现端粒和端粒酶对染色体的保护作用“方面做出的巨大贡献,诺贝尔奖组委会授予了三人当年的生理学或医学奖。
1990年左右,布莱克本博士开始转向研究端粒和人类疾病之间的关系。直到2000年时,她与心理学家埃丽莎·埃佩尔(Elissa Epel)博士开展的一项跨界合作使她在端粒领域的研究又迎来了一个新高峰。埃佩尔博士的研究方向是长期严重的心理压力对身体的影响,这一次找布莱克本博士合作是希望了解在长期的压力下端粒会发生什么变化。此前,布莱克本博士的研究都是在实验中精密控制的优雅实验。而这次埃佩尔的研究对象,则是现实中复杂的人,拥有现实而复杂的人生。这对布莱克本博士来说完全是另一个世界的研究,尽管对实验结果没抱太大希望,她还是接受了挑战。在对58名照顾患有慢性病儿童的母亲进行了长达4年的追踪调查后,两位科学家得到了一个清晰明了的事实——母亲报告遭受的压力越大,她们的端粒就越短,并且她们的端粒酶水平越低。但那些把压力视为挑战而不是威胁的母亲的端粒长度则得到了维持。
明确这一结果后,布莱克本博士激动万分,该研究将现实生活中的经历与细胞内的分子机制连接在了一起。这是首次有证据表明,精神压力不但损害我们的健康,它实实在在地让我们衰老。这项研究随后也触发了这一研究领域的大爆发,端粒缩短与多种人类疾病的发病风险增加之间的相关性被发现,例如心血管疾病、癌症、糖尿病和阿尔茨海默病等。
此外,一系列端粒影响疾病产生的机制研究也纷纷出炉。近年来,布莱克本博士又开始思考一个新的问题:如何保护端粒来延缓衰老。在和埃佩尔博士与世界各地多达50-60个研究团队进行合作以寻找保护端粒不受压力影响的方法时,她们找到了最有效的干预方法之一——冥想。研究表明,冥想不但能够减缓端粒的磨损,甚至可能增加端粒的长度。尽管一位诺奖获得主将冥想这种看上去虚无缥缈的行为模式作为研究课题无疑会带来不少非议,但布莱克本博士对冥想的观点是,它是一个可以被研究的课题,只要研究方法足够强大。
2017年,布莱克本博士出版了她的第一本与埃佩尔博士合著的著作《端粒效应:一种使人活得更年轻、更健康、更长寿的革命性的方法》。书中强调了通过生活方式的改变就有可能管理端粒并逆转衰老。
![从池塘里最不起眼的生物中,这位女性诺奖得主弄清了人类衰老之谜](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
伊丽莎白·布莱克本博士无论是作为一名科学家还是一名普通的女性,其坚定的勇气、敏锐的洞察力和无比的韧劲都使她值得称颂。这些优秀的品质是她能够发现端粒和端粒酶的作用、弄清人类衰老之谜的基石。在她发表的一篇科学论文的开头,她引用了一段来自于佛祖的话来表达她对自己现有研究的信念:“身心健康的秘诀不是为过去而哀悼,为未来而担忧,或预期麻烦,而是要明智而认真地生活在当下。”在布莱克本博士和埃佩尔博士发表最初研究后的10年里,精神压力通过端粒让我们加速衰老的理念已经渗透到了大众文化之中。
除了获得很多科学奖项以外,布莱克本博士还在2007年被《时代周刊》评为“世界上100位最具影响力人物”之一。就像居里夫人的事迹影响了布莱克本博士走上科学道路一样,布莱克本博士以她的卓越成就和优秀的品质成为了新一代科学家们的榜样。相信会有更多年轻后辈追随着这些杰出科学家的脚步,继续攀登科学的高峰,推动人类知识的边界,解决重大挑战,并为人类的健康福祉带来积极的改变。