Lifespan regulation in α/ß posterior neurons of the fly mushroom bodies by Rab27.

Brain function has been implicated to control the aging process and modulate lifespan. However, continuous efforts remain for the identification of the minimal sufficient brain region and the underlying mechanism for neuronal regulation of longevity. Here, we show that the Drosophila lifespan is modulated by rab27 functioning in a small subset of neurons of the mushroom bodies (MB), a brain structure that shares analogous functions with mammalian hippocampus and hypothalamus. Depleting rab27 in the α/ßp neurons of the MB is sufficient to extend lifespan, enhance systemic stress responses, and alter energy homeostasis, all without trade-offs in major life functions. Within the α/ßp neurons, rab27KO causes the mislocalization of phosphorylated S6K thus attenuates TOR signaling, resulting in decreased protein synthesis and reduced neuronal activity. Consistently, expression of dominant-negative S6K in the α/ßp neurons increases lifespan. Furthermore, the expression of phospho-mimetic S6 in α/ßp neurons of rab27KO rescued local protein synthesis and reversed lifespan extension. These findings demonstrate that inhibiting TOR-mediated protein synthesis in α/ßp neurons is sufficient to promote longevity.

Poly[µ(2)-benzene-1,3-dicarboxyl-ato-κO:O'-µ(2)-1,3-di-4-pyridylpropane-κN:N'-zinc(II)].

The title compound, [Zn(C(8)H(4)O(4))(C(13)H(14)N(2))](n), was obtained by the hydro-thermal reaction of Zn(OAc)(2)·H(2)O with 1,3-di-4-pyridylpropane (bpp) and isophthalic acid (H(2)ip). The Zn(II) ion is coordinated by two bpp and two ip ligands in a distorted tetra-hedral environment. Each ligand coordinates in a bridging mode to connect Zn(II) ions into a three-dimensional diamondoid-type structure.

Possible effect of 30K proteins in embryonic development of silkworm Bombyx mori.

The silkworm Bombyx mori possesses a 30K protein family of 3x10(4) Da, the biological functions of which have not been fully identified. The relationship between the 30K protein family and the embryonic development of temperature sensitive sex-linked mutant strain of silkworm was investigated by two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The results show that protein spots 1-5 of the 30K protein family, mainly existing in normal strain, are possibly related to embryonic development. The early consumption of a 30K protein named 6G1-30K-1 and the accumulation of 30K proteins named 6G1-30K-3 and 6G1-30K-4 are likely caused by the destruction of physiological balance in normal embryonic development, which may lead to lower hatchability of the temperature sensitive strain. The results suggest that reasonable metabolism of 30K proteins is a prerequisite for the embryo's normal development.

[Sex control of silkworm by the interaction between gene and environment].

The silkworm embryo of the varieties, sBan, K05, Ban1, S1 and D05 was sensitive to the high temperature and low humidity incubating condition, while that of Nong4, Xinjiu and Xiankang was more endurable. By crossing the female Xinjiu with the male of sensitive varieties, such as sBaa, K05, Ban1, S1 or D05, their female progenies were sensitive to the high temperature and low humidity during incubation and could not hatch, while the males could hatch normally. Experiment showed that silkworm sex could be controlled by the interaction between gene and environment. The sensitive period was at late stage during the embryo development. The RAPD analysis showed that the similarity index of the five temperature-sensitive varieties of sBan, K05, Ban1, S1 and D05 was 63.04-76.47%.