title: The spe-10 mutant has longer life and increased stress resistance.
abstract: We investigated the life span of spe-10 mutant nematodes. We also tested resistance of spe-10 mutants to ultraviolet (UV) light, heat, and paraquat and examined the relationship between resistance to UV light and the fertility defect of these animals. The spe-10 mutation significantly increased mean life span. Additionally, the mutation significantly increased resistance to both UV light and to heat. Resistance to paraquat was not significantly different from that of wild-type, nor were any dauers formed at 27 degrees C. No significant correlation was found between the UV resistance and the fertility defect, nor was the UV resistance attributable to a hormetic effect. These results reinforce the importance of stress resistance in specifying increased life span and indirectly suggest that this fertility defect is not a direct cause of life span extension.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0447, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cypser
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005298:Fertility; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D006540:Herbicides; D010269:Paraquat