An RGS-containing sorting nexin controls Drosophila lifespan.

Authors: Suh JM; Stenesen D; Peters JM; Inoue A; Cade A; Graff JM

Abstract: The pursuit of eternal youth has existed for centuries and recent data indicate that fat-storing tissues control lifespan. In a D. melanogaster fat body insertional mutagenic enhancer trap screen designed to isolate genes that control longevity, we identified a regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain containing sorting nexin, termed snazarus (sorting nexin lazarus, snz). Flies with insertions into the 5' UTR of snz live up to twice as long as controls. Transgenic expression of UAS-Snz from the snz Gal4 enhancer trap insertion, active in fat metabolic tissues, rescued lifespan extension. Further, the lifespan extension of snz mutants was independent of endosymbiont, e.g., Wolbachia, effects. Notably, old snz mutant flies remain active and fertile indicating that snz mutants have prolonged youthfulness, a goal of aging research. Since mammals have snz-related genes, it is possible that the functions of the snz family may be conserved to humans.

Keywords: 5' Untranslated Regions; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Carrier Proteins/chemistry/*physiology; Drosophila/genetics/*physiology; Fat Body/physiology; Larva/physiology; *Longevity; Mutation; Oligopeptides/*chemistry; Sorting Nexins; Vesicular Transport Proteins/chemistry/*physiology
Journal: PloS one
Volume: 3
Issue: 5
Pages: e2152
Date: May 15, 2008
PMID: 18478054
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Citation:

Suh JM, Stenesen D, Peters JM, Inoue A, Cade A, Graff JM (2008) An RGS-containing sorting nexin controls Drosophila lifespan. PloS one 3: e2152.


Study Lifespan Factors:
  • snz snazarus


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