Lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans by complete removal of food.
A partial reduction in food intake has been found to increase lifespan in many different organisms. We report here a new dietary restriction regimen in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, based on the standard agar plate lifespan assay, in which adult worms are maintained in the absence of a bacterial food source. These findings represent the first report in any organism of lifespan extension in response to prolonged starvation. Removal of bacterial food increases lifespan to a greater extent than partial reduction of food through a mechanism that is distinct from insulin/IGF-like signaling and the Sir2-family deacetylase, SIR-2.1. Removal of bacterial food also increases lifespan when initiated in postreproductive adults, suggesting that dietary restriction started during middle age can result in a substantial longevity benefit that is independent of reproduction.
Kaeberlein
Tammi L
TL
Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Smith
Erica D
ED
Tsuchiya
Mitsuhiro
M
Welton
K Linnea
KL
Thomas
James H
JH
Fields
Stanley
S
Kennedy
Brian K
BK
Kaeberlein
Matt
M
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics; D037761:Sirtuins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C487508:Eat-2 protein, C elegans; D007328:Insulin; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C507014:SIR-2.1 protein, C elegans; D037761:Sirtuins