<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def to_pb(self):
 """Converts the garbage collection rule to a protobuf. :rtype: :class:`.table_v2_pb2.GcRule` :returns: The converted current object. """

        max_age = _helpers._timedelta_to_duration_pb(self.max_age)
        return table_v2_pb2.GcRule(max_age=max_age)