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Symbol: ifg-1 Name: Initiation Factor 4G (eIF4G) family Entrez gene ID: 174322 Ensembl gene ID: M110.4 Species: Worm (Taxid: 6239) Functional description: Protein IFG-1; Initiation Factor 4G (eIF4G) family member (ifg-1) [Source:RefSeq peptide;Acc:NP_001022260] [Ensembl]; ifg-1 encodes, by alternative splicing, two orthologs of the translation initiation factor 4F, ribosome/mRNA-bridging subunit (eIF-4G); by homology, IFG-1 is predicted to function in poly(A) tail-dependent translation initiation; loss of ifg-1 activity in adult animals extends lifespan. The protein product of this gene is predicted to contain a glutamine/asparagine (Q/N)-rich ('prion') domain, by the algorithm of Michelitsch and Weissman (as of the WS77 release of WormBase, i.e., in wormpep77). Proteins bearing such domains can sometimes stably exist in at least two distinct physical states, each associated with a different phenotype; propagation of one of these traits is achieved by a self-perpetuating change in the protein from one form to the other, mediated by conformational changes in the glutamine/asparagine-rich domain. Prion domains are both modular and transferable to other proteins, on which they can confer a heritable epigenetic alteration of function; existing bioinformatics data indicate that they are rare in non-eukarya, but common in eukarya. Therefore, it is possible that this gene's protein product undergoes epigenetic control of protein activity, through heritable epigenetic modulation of protein function by self-perpetuating conformational conversions of normal proteins in healthy cells. It is important to note that this is distinct from, though mechanistically analogous to, disease states associated with prion propagation and amyloidogenesis. [WormBase] Observation: RNA interference against ifg-1 in the adulthood results in a 55% mean lifespan extension [17411345]. ifg-1 RNAi only in the adulthood increases mean, median and 75th %ile lifespan by 49, 33, and 35%, respectively [22560223]. RNAi knockdown of ifg-1 continuously at 25.5 degree Celsius extends mean and maximum lifespan by 31 and 11%, while knockdown restricted to the adulthood extends mean and maximum lifespan by 45 and 28% [16720740]. Interventions: Assays: Organismal Lifespan Classification: Aging Relevance Analysis/Source:  GenAge GenDRHomologs Edit \ Update (Admin) | Delete |
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