Systematic screen for genes involved in the regulation of oxidative stress in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Oxygen is essential for animals, but high concentrations of oxygen are toxic to them probably because of an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Many genes are involved in the regulation of ROS, but they largely remain to be identified. To identify these genes, we employed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, and systematically screened for genes that, when down-regulated by RNAi, lead to an increased sensitivity to ROS. We examined approximately 2400 genes on linkage group I and found that knock-down of 9 genes which participate in various cellular functions led to an increased sensitivity to ROS. This finding suggests an implication of a variety of cellular processes in the regulation of oxidative stress.

A critical role of SNF1A/dAMPKalpha (Drosophila AMP-activated protein kinase alpha) in muscle on longevity and stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster.

Energy homeostasis and stress resistance are closely linked on aging and longevity. AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a sensor of cellular energy status activated by metabolic stress that accelerates AMP/ATP ratio, regulating cell polarity, metabolic homeostasis and sensitivity to stress resistance. AMPK could be therapeutic targets for cancer, diabetic mellitus and obesity, providing a possible link to metabolic syndrome. However, little is known how functional deficiency of AMPK affects longevity and stress resistance in vivo due to its redundancy and lethality in null-mutant. SNF1A/dAMPKalpha (CG3051) is a single orthologue for its mammalian counterparts in Drosophila melanogaster. Using time- and tissue-specific RNAi system in D. melanogaster, we found that adult-onset inhibition of dAMPKalpha especially in muscle shortens lifespan. In addition, inhibition of dAMPKalpha in muscle enhances sensitivity to paraquat and starvation stress. Real-time PCR analysis showed that inhibition of dAMPKalpha in muscle affected the transcriptional regulation of various genes in response to starvation. These results raise the possibility that muscle is one of major tissues in which AMPK plays a critical role on longevity and stress resistance and the intervention to activate AMPK in muscle could be a prominent treatment strategy for longevity.

Inhibition of a eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2) during adulthood extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The critical role of protein synthesis in regulating lifespan has been evidenced. This study shows that adult-onset RNAi inactivation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2Bdelta (eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2), a subunit of eIF2B, extends the mean lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. eIF2B is a GDP-GTP exchange factor for eIF2--a rate-limiting factor for protein synthesis initiation. (35)S-methionine incorporation assay showed that global protein synthesis is reduced by eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 RNAi. Inhibition of eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 during adulthood conferred thermal and oxidative stress resistance and reduced the fecundity and fat storage, suggesting the possible trade-offs of resources between reproduction and somatic maintenance. Lifespan extension by adult-onset eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 RNAi is suppressed in FOXO transcription factor daf-16 deletion mutants. Adult-onset eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 RNAi increases the expression of stress-resistant genes, including hsp-16.2, hsp-70, hsp90, and sod-3, some of which are reported to be targets of DAF-16. Adult-onset eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 RNAi in daf-16 mutants reduced fecundity, but did not extend lifespan. Furthermore, adult-onset eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 RNAi did not extend the lifespan of germline-defective glp-4 organisms. Thus, it is possible that eIF2Bdelta/F11A3.2 RNAi during adulthood prolongs lifespan via daf-16, which induces stress resistance in organisms. This might be the mechanism, at least in part, for trade-offs of resources between reproduction and somatic maintenance.