A study led by Dr. Stephanie Tobin and her team at Trent University has led to the discovery of cytokinins in mammalian muscle cells, which have the potential to regulate vital signalling processes in our muscles that help maintain muscle health.  

“If we can determine how cytokinins are functioning in muscle cells, we could use them to address problems that arise in our skeletal muscle system in response to inflammation and aging,” explains Professor Tobin, assistant professor in Trent’s Biology department.   

Cytokinins, which are well-known anti-aging compounds in plants, were only recently confirmed to exist in mammals. Prof. Tobin says this new study demonstrates that there is still a significant amount of fundamental biology that remains unknown. 

Future directions point to targeting cytokinins for therapeutic interventions

By understanding how stressors influence cytokinin levels, Prof. Tobin said there's an interest in exploring whether adjusting the production of cytokinins, either increasing or decreasing them, might have a beneficial impact on maintaining cellular energy balance (homeostasis).  

"When you're sick, old, or if you don't go to the gym for a long time, your muscles can start to atrophy. I'm interested in knowing if cytokinins activate pathways that tell muscles to breakdown," said Prof. Tobin, who is also a member of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society.    

Collaborative research efforts spark inspiration

Cytokinins are a type of signaling molecules that are found in various living organisms, from bacteria to mammals.  

“Before meeting with Trent Professor Dr. Neil Emery, who studies plant biochemistry, I had never heard of cytokinins. And then the more I looked into it, I realized that no one has really studied cytokinins in muscle,” said Prof. Tobin. 

To analyze the levels of cytokinins and other molecules in muscle cells in response to different substances, Prof. Tobin collaborated with Professor Emery’s lab to enhance the scope of the research. 

 “His lab is one of the few that can profile cytokinins, which is technically challenging to isolate and interpret,” she said. 

Prof. Tobin and her team, including undergraduate and graduate students at Trent University, were recently awarded the Theall Research Fund Grant for their current project, Uncovering the anti-aging potential of cytokinins in skeletal muscle. Prof. Tobin’s project was also awarded a $25,000 NSERC Alliance Catalyst grant.