Project description:To identify DAF-16-dependent transcriptional alterations that occur in a long-lived C. elegans strain, we used cDNA microarrays and genomic analysis to identify putative direct and indirect DAF-16 transcriptional target genes. Set of arrays organized by shared biological context, such as organism, tumors types, processes, etc. Keywords: Logical Set
Project description:Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling (IIS) is known to constrain longevity by inhibiting the transcription factor FOXO. How phosphorylation mediated by IIS kinases regulates lifespan beyond FOXO remains unclear. Here, we profile IIS-dependent phosphorylation changes in a large-scale quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of wild-type and three IIS mutant Caenorhabditis elegans strains. We quantify more than 15,000 phosphosites and find that 476 of these are differentially phosphorylated in the long-lived daf-2/insulin receptor mutant. We develop a machine learning-based method to prioritize 25 potential lifespan-related phosphosites. We perform validations to show that AKT-1 pT492 inhibits DAF-16/FOXO and compensates the loss of daf-2 function, that EIF-2α pS49 potently inhibits protein synthesis and daf-2 longevity, and that reduced phosphorylation of multiple germline proteins apparently transmits reduced DAF-2 signaling to the soma. In addition, an analysis of kinases with enriched substrates detects that casein kinase 2 (CK2) subunits negatively regulate lifespan. Our study reveals detailed functional insights into longevity.
Project description:Previous studies have suggested that low to moderate alcohol exposure can extend Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) lifespan, but early molecular mechanisms linking ethanol exposure to longevity have not been fully characterized. Here, we investigated how ethanol treatment affects transcriptional networks in L4-stage C. elegans by time-resolved RNA-seq. L4-stage C. elegans were exposed to 5% ethanol and time-resolved RNA-seq was performed after 1, 4, and 20 hours in solution cultures, followed by differential gene expression and KEGG pathway-based Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. At 1 hour, GSEA analysis showed significant enrichment of genes in the Longevity regulating pathway (worm) with elevated expression. Core-enrichment genes exhibited coordinated upregulation of redox-defense modules, including glutathione S-transferases (gst) and p38 MAPK components (pmk-2/pmk-3), consistent with upregulation of SKN-1/Nrf2-related stress-response genes. Detoxification (gpx and fmo families) and lipid-remodeling genes were enriched at 1 hour. By 4 hours, sod-3, a canonical DAF-16/FOXO target, was clearly upregulated, suggesting engagement of DAF-16-associated antioxidant responses, whereas Peroxisome and TGF-β signaling pathways were significantly downregulated. Together, these findings provide transcriptomic insights into a temporally structured longevity-associated response to ethanol exposure, in which early detoxification and antioxidant programs, together with membrane-lipid remodeling, are followed by DAF-16-associated gene induction and repression of peroxisome- and development-related signaling. These pathway-level changes highlight candidate biological processes potentially associated with ethanol-linked lifespan modulation in C. elegans.
Project description:DAF-12 is involved in development, dauer formation, and aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. To understand how DAF-12 is involved in these biologic processes, we performed chIP-chip using a DAF-12:TAP transgene and an anti-DAF-12 antibody. We identified 1175 genomic binding sites which were located within 5 kb of 3179 genes. These genes include known DAF-12 target genes as well as new genes involved in developmental timing, microRNA function, and stress resistance. The supplemental BED file contains all 1175 genomic binding sites described in our work.
Project description:Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (AO168=O) is an emerging organophosphate contaminant derived from plastic antioxidants and widely detected in soils. To investigate its chronic biological effects, synchronized Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to AO168=O in agar-based NGM medium and sampled at the L4 stage for transcriptomic analysis. Bulk RNA-seq was performed on control and AO168=O-treated worms at 400, 2000, and 10000 ng/g, with three biological replicates per group. The dataset was generated to characterize transcriptional responses associated with developmental restriction and IIS/DAF-16-related stress-responsive pathways.
Project description:Dietary restriction (DR) is the most effective and reproducible intervention to extend lifespan in divergent species1. In mammals, two regimens of DR, intermittent fasting (IF) and caloric restriction (CR), have proven to extend lifespan and reduce the incidence of age-related disorders2. An important characteristic of IF is that it can increase lifespan, even when there is little or no overall decrease in calorie intake2. The molecular mechanisms underlying IF-induced longevity, however, remain largely unknown. Here we establish an IF regimen that effectively extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, and show that a nutrient-related signalling molecule, the low molecular weight GTPase Cel-Rheb, has a dual role in lifespan regulation; Cel-Rheb is required for the IF-induced longevity, whereas inhibition of Cel-Rheb mimics the CR effects. We also show that Cel-Rheb exerts its effects in part via the insulin/IGF-like signalling effector DAF-16 in IF, and that Cel-Rheb is required for fasting-induced nuclear translocation of DAF-16. We find that HSP-12.6, a DAF-16 target, functions to mediate the IF-induced longevity. Furthermore, our analyses demonstrate that most of fasting-induced upregulated genes require Cel-Rheb function for their induction, and that Cel-Rheb/Cel-TOR signalling is required for the fasting-induced downregulation of an insulin-like peptide, INS-7. These findings identify the essential role of signalling via Cel-Rheb in IF-induced longevity and gene expression changes, and suggest a molecular link between the IF-induced longevity and the insulin/IGF-like signalling pathway.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in early generation Caenorhabditis elegans Bristol N2 prg-1 and Bristol N2 prg-1; daf-2 double mutant, compared to late-generation strains. A seven chip study using total RNA recovered from three separate alleles of Caenorhabditis elegans Bristol N2 prg-1 and four separate allelic combinations of a double mutant strain, Bristol N2 prg-1; daf-2 , in which prg-1 (pk2298) and prg-1 (tm872) are combined with one of three daf-2 alleles (e1368, 1370, m41).