Two neurons mediate diet-restriction-induced longevity in C. elegans.

Authors: Bishop, Nicholas A; Guarente, Leonard

Abstract: Dietary restriction extends lifespan and retards age-related disease in many species and profoundly alters endocrine function in mammals. However, no causal role of any hormonal signal in diet-restricted longevity has been demonstrated. Here we show that increased longevity of diet-restricted Caenorhabditis elegans requires the transcription factor gene skn-1 acting in the ASIs, a pair of neurons in the head. Dietary restriction activates skn-1 in these two neurons, which signals peripheral tissues to increase metabolic activity. These findings demonstrate that increased lifespan in a diet-restricted metazoan depends on cell non-autonomous signalling from central neuronal cells to non-neuronal body tissues, and suggest that the ASI neurons mediate diet-restriction-induced longevity by an endocrine mechanism.

Keywords: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans/anatomy & histology/*cytology/*physiology; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/*metabolism; *Caloric Restriction; Cell Respiration; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism; Diet; Head; Longevity/*physiology; Models, Biological; Neurons/*metabolism; Oxygen Consumption; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism
Journal: Nature
Volume: 447
Issue: 7144
Pages: 545-9
Date: June 1, 2007
PMID: 17538612
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Citation:

Bishop, Nicholas A, Guarente, Leonard (2007) Two neurons mediate diet-restriction-induced longevity in C. elegans. Nature 447: 545-9.


Study Lifespan Factors:
  • daf-2 abnormal DAuer Formation 2


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