Feedback loops between DNMT1 and autophagy as well as senescence promotes organ aging and canities

mRNA does not result in a decrease of its protein. Instead, DNMT1 protein is increased in aged mouse tissues, which is responsible for the methylation of genes related to macroautophagy/autophagy, senescence repression, and melanin synthesis and transport in aged organs, resulting in a decline of autophagy, an increase of senescence in those organs, and a decrease in melanin production in hair follicles (canities) in response to ionizing radiation (IR). Genetic deletion and inhibition of DNMT1 can reverse these processes. The interaction of DNMT1 with ATG7 through its CXXC domain is essential for its degradation, and treatment with senolytics also downregulates DNMT1 in aged organs, supporting two feedback loops between them.