Protein-repair and hormone-signaling pathways specify dauer and adult longevity and dauer development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Authors: Banfield KL; Gomez TA; Lee W; Clarke S; Larsen PL

Abstract: Protein damage that accumulates during aging can be mitigated by a repair methyltransferase, the l-isoaspartyl-O-methyltransferase. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the pcm-1 gene encodes this enzyme. In response to pheromone, we show that pcm-1 mutants form fewer dauer larvae with reduced survival due to loss of the methyltransferase activity. Mutations in daf-2, an insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1-like receptor, and daf-7, a transforming growth factor-beta-like ligand, modulate pcm-1 dauer defects. Additionally, daf-2 and daf-7 mutant dauer larvae live significantly longer than wild type. Although dauer larvae are resistant to many environmental stressors, a proportionately larger decrease in dauer larvae life spans occurred at 25 degrees C compared to 20 degrees C than in adult life span. At 25 degrees C, mutation of the daf-7 or pcm-1 genes does not change adult life span, whereas mutation of the daf-2 gene and overexpression of PCM-1 increases adult life span. Thus, there are both overlapping and distinct mechanisms that specify dauer and adult longevity.

Keywords: Aging/genetics/*metabolism; Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/*physiology; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/*physiology; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics/*physiology; Epistasis, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics/*physiology; Genes, Helminth; Larva/physiology; Longevity/genetics/physiology; Methyltransferases/genetics/*physiology; Mutation; Pheromones; Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase/genetics; Receptor, Insulin/physiology; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors/physiology; Transforming Growth Factor beta/physiology
Journal: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Volume: 63
Issue: 8
Pages: 798-808
Date: Sept. 6, 2008
PMID: 18772467
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Citation:

Banfield KL, Gomez TA, Lee W, Clarke S, Larsen PL (2008) Protein-repair and hormone-signaling pathways specify dauer and adult longevity and dauer development in Caenorhabditis elegans. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 63: 798-808.


Study Lifespan Factors:
  • Pcmt Protein-L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate) O-methyltransferase


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