RNA helicase HEL-1 promotes longevity by specifically activating DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 112(31): E4246-55, 2015 Aug 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26195740
ABSTRACT
The homeostatic maintenance of the genomic DNA is crucial for regulating aging processes. However, the role of RNA homeostasis in aging processes remains unknown. RNA helicases are a large family of enzymes that regulate the biogenesis and homeostasis of RNA. However, the functional significance of RNA helicases in aging has not been explored. Here, we report that a large fraction of RNA helicases regulate the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. In particular, we show that a DEAD-box RNA helicase, helicase 1 (HEL-1), promotes longevity by specifically activating the DAF-16/forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factor signaling pathway. We find that HEL-1 is required for the longevity conferred by reduced insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS) and is sufficient for extending lifespan. We further show that the expression of HEL-1 in the intestine and neurons contributes to longevity. HEL-1 enhances the induction of a large fraction of DAF-16 target genes. Thus, the RNA helicase HEL-1 appears to promote longevity in response to decreased IIS as a transcription coregulator of DAF-16. Because HEL-1 and IIS are evolutionarily well conserved, a similar mechanism for longevity regulation via an RNA helicase-dependent regulation of FOXO signaling may operate in mammals, including humans.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Signal Transduction
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Caenorhabditis elegans
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RNA Helicases
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Longevity
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article