The gerontogenes age-1 and daf-2 determine metabolic rate potential in aging Caenorhabditis elegans.
Mutations in the genes age-1 and daf-2 extend life span of Caenorhabditis elegans by 100 and 200%, respectively, in axenic culture. Adult worms that are mutant in either of these genes have higher metabolic capacities, called metabolic rate potentials, at all ages and the extension of their life expectancies are positively correlated with the increases of metabolic rate potential. The activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, isocitrate lyase, and malate synthase are all higher relative to those in worms that are wild type for these genes, but acid phosphatase is down-regulated and alkaline phosphatase activity is lowered to 10% of the activity measured in age-1(+) and daf-2(+) worms. These results suggest that genes that regulate metabolic activity may play central roles in longevity and senescence.
Vanfleteren
J R
JR
Department of Morphology, Systematics and Ecology, University of Ghent, Belgium.
De Vreese
A
A
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007522:Isocitrate Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D008292:Malate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D015801:Helminth Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D008292:Malate Synthase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D007522:Isocitrate Lyase