Autophagy genes mediate the effect of calcineurin on life span in  C. elegans.
Calcineurin (CaN) is a serine/threonine phosphatase, activated by Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM). CaN is known to regulate various cellular responses in different organisms. A recent study showed an extended life span in the calcineurin mutants of C. elegans. In this study, we report that calcineurin defective strains exhibit enhanced autophagy. In addition, we found two essential autophagy genes (bec-1 and atg-7) are required for the life-span extension in calcineurin null mutants [cnb-1(jh103)]. Thus, for the first time we suggest that autophagy genes are required for the life-span regulation in calcineurin defective C. elegans strains.
Dwivedi
Meenakshi
M
Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
Song
Hyun-Ok
HO
Ahnn
Joohong
J
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D019703:Calcineurin