PgmNr W422: The neuroendocrine peptide DAF-7/TGF-β is a key regulator of dietary restriction in C. elegans.

Authors:
M. Fletcher; D. Kim


Institutes
MIT, Cambridge, MA.


Keyword: Longevity

Abstract:

The neuromodulator DAF-7/TGF-β is a key regulator of C. elegans physiology and behavior.  DAF-7 is expressed in and secreted from chemosensory neurons and expression levels have been shown to be sensitive to environmental factors such as food availability and pheromone concentration.  Signaling through DAF-7 regulates dauer formation and fat metabolism, as well as a number of diverse behaviors.  Additionally, daf-7 mutations have been observed to extend lifespan in a daf-16 dependent manner.  Here, we show that response to dietary restriction (DR), a treatment that extends lifespan, is also dependent on daf-7.  We further investigate the dynamics of daf-7 expression throughout the aging process of C. elegans to characterize how this signaling pathway acts to modulate lifespan and allow C. elegans to respond to changes in nutritional availability to promote longevity under dietary restriction.  Understanding how limited nutritional resources elicit a response in this particular neuroendocrine pathway to confer lifespan benefits may allow us to gain insight into how DR may be acting to delay the aging process across species.



Wormbase Genetic Index
1. daf-7