Inhibition of respiration extends C. elegans life span via reactive oxygen species that increase HIF-1 activity.

ABSTRACT: A mild inhibition of mitochondrial respiration extends the life span of many organisms, including yeast, worms, flies, and mice, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. One environmental condition that reduces rates of respiration is hypoxia (low oxygen). Thus, it is possible that mechanisms that sense oxygen play a role in the longevity response to reduced respiration. The hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1 is a highly conserved transcription factor that activates genes that promote survival during hypoxia. In this study, we show that inhibition of respiration in C. elegans can promote longevity by activating HIF-1. Through genome-wide screening, we found that RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of many genes encoding respiratory-chain components induced hif-1-dependent transcription. Moreover

SUBMITTER: Lee SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3058811 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature