Genetic Influences of the Microbiota on the Life Span of Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: To better understand how associated microorganisms ("microbiota") influence organismal aging, we focused on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster We conducted a metagenome-wide association (MGWA) as a screen to identify bacterial genes associated with variation in the D. melanogaster life span. The results of the MGWA predicted that bacterial cysteine and methionine metabolism genes influence fruit fly longevity. A mutant analysis, in which flies were inoculated with Escherichia coli strains bearing mutations in various methionine cycle genes, confirmed a role for some methionine cycle genes in extending or shortening fruit fly life span. Initially, we predicted these genes might influence longevity by mimicking or opposing methionine restriction, an established m

SUBMITTER: Matthews MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7205492 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature