Multiple-stress analysis for isolation of Drosophila longevity genes.

Authors: Wang HD; Kazemi-Esfarjani P; Benzer S

Abstract: Long-lived organisms tend to be more resistant to various forms of environmental stress. An example is the Drosophila longevity mutant, methuselah, which has enhanced resistance to heat, oxidants, and starvation. To identify genes regulated by these three stresses, we made a cDNA library for each by subtraction of "unstressed" from "stressed" cDNA and used DNA hybridization to identify genes that are regulated by all three. This screen indeed identified 13 genes, some already known to be involved in longevity, plus candidate genes. Two of these, hsp26 and hsp27, were chosen to test for their effects on lifespan by generating transgenic lines and by using the upstream activating sequence/GAL4 system. Overexpression of either hsp26 or hsp27 extended the mean lifespan by 30%, and the flies also displayed increased stress resistance. The results demonstrate that multiple-stress screening can be used to identify new longevity genes.

Keywords: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/metabolism; Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics/physiology; Fertility; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Heat-Shock Proteins/*genetics/metabolism; *Hot Temperature; *Longevity; Male; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Oxidants/*metabolism; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics/metabolism; Starvation
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume: 101
Issue: 34
Pages: 12610-5
Date: Aug. 17, 2004
PMID: 15308776
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Citation:

Wang HD, Kazemi-Esfarjani P, Benzer S (2004) Multiple-stress analysis for isolation of Drosophila longevity genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101: 12610-5.


Study Lifespan Factors:
  • Hsp26 Heat shock protein 26
  • Hsp27 Heat shock protein 27


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