Characterization of a life-extending mutation in age-2, a new aging gene in Caenorhabditis elegans.
We have generated a life-extending mutation, yw23, in Caenorhabditis elegans. The mutation is in what appears to be a new aging gene, which we have designated age-2. When homozygous, yw23 produces an increase of mean and maximum life span of about 20% over that of the wild-type strain, N2. Strain HG23 [age-2(yw23)] was obtained by screening for longer life spans among 430 lines of nematodes two generations after exposure to the mutagen ethylmethanesulfonate. Strain HG231 [age-2(yw23)] was obtained after a single out-crossing of HG23 to N2. When compared with N2, HG231 exhibits normal motility, slightly higher swimming rates, reduced fertility (especially at higher temperatures), somewhat longer development times, and a slightly larger size at the time of first egg laying. A Gompertz analysis suggests that HG231 extends life span by reducing the initial mortality rate. In genetic crosses, yw23 complements other known aging mutants in C. elegans genes-age-1, daf-2, spe-26, clk-1, clk-2, clk-3, and gro-1. A double-mutant strain, HG284, combining mutations in age-1 and age-2, lives longer than animals with individual mutations in either age-1 or age-2, and exhibits a longer life span at 25 degrees C than at 20 degrees C.
Yang
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Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124-0421, USA.
Wilson
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D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D005298:Fertility; D005808:Genes, Recessive / Q000235:genetics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006720:Homozygote; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008124:Locomotion; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D009068:Movement; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics
C104339:CLK-1 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D009153:Mutagens; C093526:Spe-26 protein, C elegans; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C100662:AGE-1 protein, C elegans; C107483:DAF-2 protein, C elegans; D011972:Receptor, Insulin