Genetics and the specificity of the aging process.
The identification and study of long-lived mutant animals has provided valuable insights into the mechanisms that limit the life-span of organisms. Findings with the gene SIR2 suggest that the rate of aging can be regulated under certain conditions. Indeed, increased expression of SIR2 lengthens life-span by acting on biological processes that promote survival under conditions of scarcity. In addition, studies of mutant strains of Caenorhabditis elegans, in particular daf-2, clk-1, and isp-1 mutants, suggest that the biology of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria and elsewhere might be the main determinant of life-span in this organism. Thus, the aging process may be more specific than previously anticipated on evolutionary grounds.
Hekimi
Siegfried
S
Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada. siegfried.hekimi@mcgill.ca
Guarente
Leonard
L
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D037761:Sirtuins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C104339:CLK-1 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C443102:Isp-1 protein, Caenorhabditis elegans; C107483:DAF-2 protein, C elegans; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D037761:Sirtuins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III