What is "klotho"

Klotho may refer to

• Clotho, one of the Moirai, or Fates, in Greek mythology
• 97 Klotho, an asteroid
• Klotho (biology), a membrane protein that may be involved in aging.
• Clotho (software), a software suite for synthetic biology.

Klotho is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the KL gene.

This gene encodes a type-I membrane protein that is related to β-glucuronidases. Reduced production of this protein has been observed in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), and this may be one of the factors underlying the degenerative processes (e.g., arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, and skin atrophy) seen in CRF. Also, mutations within this protein have been associated with ageing and bone loss. Transgenic mice that overexpress Klotho live longer than wild-type mice.