Direct and indirect transcriptional targets of DAF-16.
Several genes involved in the determination of life span have been identified by mutation in the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. One of the key pathways studied in the context of life span is the DAF-2 pathway. The daf-2 gene is homologous to the insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor families. A downstream gene, daf-16, encodes a protein that is homologous to the forkhead transcription factor. A study by McElwee, Bubb, and Thomas, published in the current issue of Aging Cell, used genome-scale gene expression analysis to search for genes that are differentially expressed between long-lived daf-2(e1370) and short-lived daf-16(m27);daf-2(e1370) animals. In doing so, they identified candidate direct and indirect targets of DAF-16. In this Perspective, I discuss the results of this study.
Larsen
Pamela L
PL
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. larsenp@uthscsa.edu
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C108831:daf-16 protein, C elegans; C107483:DAF-2 protein, C elegans; D011972:Receptor, Insulin