Genetic regulation of dietary restriction-induced longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dietary restriction (DR), the limitation of food intake below the ad libidum (AL) level without malnutrition, extends mean and maximum lifespan in every organism in which it has been tested. Perhaps even more significantly, DR has also been shown in animal models to slow progression of, or even prevent entirely, an array of age-dependent pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, multiple types of cancer, several neurodegenerative disorders, and diabetes. Short-term DR also reduces the risk of coronary disease and stroke in humans. Clearly, identification of the genetic mechanisms underlying these protective effects of DR would have profound implications for the development of novel medical interventions affecting diseases of aging. Recent studies of model organisms have revealed many genetic pathways that control the physiological rate of aging. However, advances in understanding DR longevity have lagged behind, especially in metazoans. Here, I use the roundworm C. elegans as a model of DR longevity and identify some of the underlying genetic mechanisms. DR profoundly alters endocrine function in mammals, but no causal role of any hormonal signal in DR longevity has been demonstrated.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Biology.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Bishop, Nicholas A

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leonard Guarente.

• Biology.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38987

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/38987