title: Genetics and epigenetics of aging and longevity.
abstract: Evolutionary theories of aging predict the existence of certain genes that provide selective advantage early in life with adverse effect on lifespan later in life (antagonistic pleiotropy theory) or longevity insurance genes (disposable soma theory). Indeed, the study of human and animal genetics is gradually identifying new genes that increase lifespan when overexpressed or mutated: gerontogenes. Furthermore, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms are being identified that have a positive effect on longevity. The gerontogenes are classified as lifespan regulators, mediators, effectors, housekeeping genes, genes involved in mitochondrial function, and genes regulating cellular senescence and apoptosis. In this review we demonstrate that the majority of the genes as well as genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that are involved in regulation of longevity are highly interconnected and related to stress response.
authors.affiliation: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Moscow, Russian Federation; Institute of Biology; Komi Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences; Syktyvkar, Russian Federation; Syktyvkar State University; Syktyvkar, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Alexey A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moskalev
authors.affiliation: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Moscow, Russian Federation; Institute of Biology; Komi Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences; Syktyvkar, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aliper
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science; School of Medicine; University of California at Davis; Davis, CA USA.
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Smit-McBride
authors.affiliation: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Moscow, Russian Federation; Federal Clinical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology; Moscow, Russian Federation; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry; Moscow, Russian Federation; First Oncology Research and Advisory Center; Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buzdin
authors.affiliation: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Moscow, Russian Federation; Federal Clinical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology; Moscow, Russian Federation; The Biogerontology Research Foundation; London, UK.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhavoronkov
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics
keywords: aging; epigenetics; evolution; genetics; longevity