There are a multitude of products for sale that promise the appearance of eternal youth by erasing wrinkles or firming up jaw lines; but what if we could truly turn back time, at the cellular level? Now, researchers from Japan have found a protein that may do just that.

In a study published this month in Cellular Signaling, researchers from Osaka University have revealed that a key protein is responsible for toggling between “young” and “old” cell states.

As we age, older and less active cells, known as senescent cells, accumulate in multiple organs. These cells are noticeably larger than younger cells, and exhibit altered organization of stress fibers, the structural parts of cells that help them move and interact with their environment.