Transcriptional outputs of the Caenorhabditis elegans forkhead protein DAF-16.
In Caenorhabditis elegans, the forkhead protein DAF-16 transduces insulin-like signals that regulate larval development and adult lifespan. To identify DAF-16-dependent transcriptional alterations that occur in a long-lived C. elegans strain, we used cDNA microarrays and genomic analysis to identify putative direct and indirect DAF-16 transcriptional target genes. Our analysis suggests that DAF-16 action regulates a wide range of physiological responses by altering the expression of genes involved in metabolism, energy generation and cellular stress responses. Furthermore, we observed a large overlap between DAF-16-dependent transcription and genes normally expressed in the long-lived dauer larval stage. Finally, we examined the in vivo role of 35 of these target genes by RNA-mediated interference and identified one gene encoding a putative protease that is necessary for the daf-2 Age phenotype.
McElwee
Joshua
J
Molecular and Cellular Biology Program of the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Bubb
Kerry
K
Thomas
James H
JH
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007814:Larva; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018510:RNA, Helminth; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C108831:daf-16 protein, C elegans