{
  "id": 6533289,
  "title": "Cysteine reduction rather than methionine restriction promotes immunometabolic fitness to confer survival benefit in aging",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/cysteine-reduction-rather-than-methionine-restriction-promotes",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-09T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.04.749519v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study reveals that reducing cysteine levels, rather than restricting methionine, may promote longevity and improved health in aging. Elevated sulfur-containing amino acids, including methionine and cystine, have been associated with human mortality. However, traditional longevity-promoting diets often omit cystine.\n\nIn this research, scientists demonstrated that selectively restricting cysteine in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans extended lifespan and improved stress survival, regardless of methionine levels. Interestingly, when cysteine-free diets were given to cystathionine gamma-lyase-deficient mice, either with or without methionine restriction, pro-metabolic effects were observed. In contrast, methionine restriction with normal cysteine levels did not yield the same benefits.\n\nMoreover, the study found that maintaining a 70% reduction in cysteine levels in aged cystathionine gamma-lyase-deficient mice reprogrammed the immunometabolic axis, leading to healthspan benefits. Consequently, the researchers concluded that lowering cysteine while preserving the methionine pool can enhance healthy lifespan.",
  "summary": "Elevated sulfur-containing amino acids (SAA; methionine and cystine) are linked to human mortality. While methionine restriction (MR) extends lifespan in animals, it is often ignored that traditional longevity-promoting MR diets also lack cystine. When dietary cystine is eliminated, host redirects substrates from methionine cycle and generates cysteine via cystathionine {gamma}-lyase (CTH) in…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}