Researchers have developed a groundbreaking epigenetic tool with potential uses in medicine, athletics, and farming.
Scientists at the University of Otago — Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka have introduced an innovative epigenetic tool that could have significant impacts in healthcare, sports, and agriculture.
A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reveals that DNA can be utilized to estimate the duration of an animal’s exposure to male hormones, known as androgens.
The researchers developed a platform termed the “Androgen Clock,” which analyzes specific areas of DNA that change over time in response to androgen exposure.
Though they have not yet created a similar clock for humans, the team is enthusiastic about the future possibilities.
Dr. Victoria Sugrue, the main author and a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Anatomy, explains that androgens influence DNA in a consistent and predictable way, resembling a clock, and the researchers have devised an effective method for measurement.
“We formulated the results into a linear model that can estimate months of androgen exposure with remarkable precision for both mice and sheep,” says Dr. Sugrue.
“Notably, when we inhibited the receptor protein in mice that interacts with androgens, the Androgen Clock ceased. Conversely, when we administered androgens to female mice, the clock resumed. This indicates that the clock relies on androgens rather than other male traits.”
High levels of androgen hormones are what generally give males more strength, speed, and body hair compared to females. However, there has yet to be a method for measuring long-term exposure to these male hormones.
Associate Professor Tim Hore, who leads the research team in the Department of Anatomy, notes numerous potential applications for the Androgen Clock in fields like healthcare, sports, and agriculture, such as testing meat quality, as demonstrated in their study.
The team used the Androgen Clock to assess meat quality, comparing lamb from a butcher to older rams from a farm.
“As anticipated, we found that the Androgen Clock for the older rams was considerably ahead compared to that of the lamb,” explains Hore. “This could be immediately utilized for quality verification – meat from older intact males is likely to be tougher and possess undesirable flavors – yet this is not always evident when viewed in stores.”
“In addition, it could help verify whether meat has been produced with or without hormone supplements, which is particularly crucial for beef consumers.”
Development of an Androgen Clock for humans is currently underway.
“We conducted experiments treating female mice with a synthetic androgen, similar to those potentially used by athletes to cheat in competitive sports,” says Associate Professor Hore.
This treatment had a noticeable impact on DNA and accelerated the Androgen Clock beyond what would be expected even for a male mouse of the same age. If we successfully create an Androgen Clock for humans, it could potentially identify instances of synthetic androgen misuse in professional sports. Unlike most current tests, this would rely on the long-term impact of the androgen on DNA rather than a single momentary measurement.
This test could also have applications in medicine, helping diagnose hormone-related disorders like hyperandrogenism.
The study underpinning the Androgen Clock is part of the rapid progress in tools aimed at understanding DNA aging.
The University of Otago team, in cooperation with researchers from Australia and the USA, previously developed a method to estimate the age of sheep using their DNA.
Their work was part of a broader international collaboration that evaluated DNA from over 200 mammal species, transforming this data into mathematical models called “epigenetic clocks,” which can predict the age of various mammals using just DNA.
“In recent years, extensive research into epigenetic clocks has provided valuable insights into aging and its modulation. Yet, we still have limited understanding of how epigenetic clocks function operationally,” Associate Professor Hore notes.
“The Androgen Clock is unique in that it can be turned on and off by varying a single chemical, without fundamentally altering cellular identity. Further research into the Androgen Clock will enhance our understanding of DNA aging mechanisms and their underlying causes.”
