Reproduction and longevity: secrets revealed by C. elegans.
What is the relationship between reproduction and longevity? Evolutionary biology suggests that reproduction exacts a cost in somatic maintenance, a cost that reduces longevity. The frequent occurrence of this tradeoff between life span and fecundity, both due to experimental manipulations as well as natural variation, suggest that the mechanism might be conserved during evolution. Until recently, little was known about the mechanistic details of how reproduction might regulate life span. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of life span by reproductive signaling, focusing on studies using Caenorhabditis elegans.
Mukhopadhyay
Arnab
A
Program in Gene Function and Expression, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Tissenbaum
Heidi A
HA
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005835:Genitalia / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007328:Insulin; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C517777:KRI-1 protein, C elegans; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C108831:daf-16 protein, C elegans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C107483:DAF-2 protein, C elegans; D011972:Receptor, Insulin