The C. elegans ortholog of mammalian Ku70, interacts with insulin-like signaling to modulate stress resistance and life span

University of Southern California and buck institute nathan shock center: multidimensional models of aging

The USC-Buck Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Biology of Aging is a new and fully integrated multi-institutional center focused on training the next generation of geroscientists and providing access to cutting-edge geroscience technologies to investigators across the nation. The USC-Buck NSC is devoted to forging a deeper understanding of how and why aging processes cause disease in order to advance the translation of basic research on aging into effective preventions and therapies. Including more than 61 NIA-supported investigators, six NIA-funded research centers, four NIA T32s, and several additional aging research centers of excellence, the USC-Buck NSC constitutes one of the largest collections of leaders in geroscience research within the USA; the unique nature of the USC-Buck NSC research infrastructure ensures an integrated organization that is representative of the wide breadth of topics encompassed by the biology of aging field. By leveraging the 25-year-long relationship, current collaborations and joint administrational activities of the University of Southern California and the Buck Institute for Aging Research, the USC-Buck NSC aims to enhance and expand promising research in the biology of aging at both at the and to make a positive impact across California, the nation and throughout the world. Specialized cores provide services to all Shock Center members, as well as provide support for services to the community at large.

Knock-down of odr-3 and ife-2 additively extends lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans

Genetic manipulations can ameliorate the aging process and extend the lifespan of model organisms. The aim of this research was to identify novel genetic interventions that promote both lifespan and healthspan, by combining the effects of multiple longevity-associated gene inactivations in C. elegans. For this, the individual and combined effects of the odr-3 mutation and of ife-2 and cku-70 knock-downs were studied, both in the wild type and daf-16 mutant backgrounds. We found that besides increasing the lifespan of wild type animals, the knock-down of ife-2 (starting at L4) also extends the lifespan and healthspan of long-lived odr-3 mutants. In the daf-16 background, ife-2 and odr-3 impairment exert opposing effects individually, while the daf-16; odr-3; ife-2 deficient animals show a similar lifespan and healthspan as daf-16, suggesting that the odr-3 and ife-2 effector outcomes converge downstream of DAF-16. By contrast, cku-70 knock-down did not extend the lifespan of single or double odr-3; ife-2 inactivated animals, and was slightly deleterious to healthspan. In conclusion, we report that impairment of odr-3 and ife-2 increases lifespan and healthspan in an additive and synergistic manner, respectively, and that this result is not improved by further knocking-down cku-70.

Loss of Function of Scavenger Receptor SCAV-5 Protects C. elegans Against Pathogenic Bacteria

Scavenger receptors play a critical role in innate immunity by acting as the pattern-recognition receptors. There are six class B scavenger receptors homologs in C. elegans. However, it remains unclear whether they are required for host defense against bacterial pathogens. Here, we show that, of the six SCAV proteins, only loss of function scav-5 protect C. elegans against pathogenic bacteria S. typhimurium SL1344 and P. aeruginosa PA14 by different mechanism. scav-5 mutants are resistant to S. typhimurium SL1344 due to dietary restriction. While scav-5 acts upstream of or in parallel to tir-1 in conserved PMK-1 p38 MAPK pathway to upregulate the innate immune response to defend worms against P. aeruginosa PA14. This is the first demonstration of a role for SCAV-5 in host defense against pathogenic bacteria. Our results provide an important basis for further elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism by which scav-5 regulates innate immune responses.

Caenorhabditis elegans RMI2 functional homolog-2 (RMIF-2) and RMI1 (RMH-1) have both overlapping and distinct meiotic functions within the BTR complex

Homologous recombination is a high-fidelity repair pathway for DNA double-strand breaks employed during both mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. Such repair can lead to genetic exchange, originating from crossover (CO) generation. In mitosis, COs are suppressed to prevent sister chromatid exchange. Here, the BTR complex, consisting of the Bloom helicase (HIM-6 in worms), topoisomerase 3 (TOP-3), and the RMI1 (RMH-1 and RMH-2) and RMI2 scaffolding proteins, is essential for dismantling joint DNA molecules to form non-crossovers (NCOs) via decatenation. In contrast, in meiosis COs are essential for accurate chromosome segregation and the BTR complex plays distinct roles in CO and NCO generation at different steps in meiotic recombination. RMI2 stabilizes the RMI1 scaffolding protein, and lack of RMI2 in mitosis leads to elevated sister chromatid exchange, as observed upon RMI1 knockdown. However, much less is known about the involvement of RMI2 in meiotic recombination. So far, RMI2 homologs have been found in vertebrates and plants, but not in lower organisms such as Drosophila, yeast, or worms. We report the identification of the Caenorhabditis elegans functional homolog of RMI2, which we named RMIF-2. The protein shows a dynamic localization pattern to recombination foci during meiotic prophase I and concentration into recombination foci is mutually dependent on other BTR complex proteins. Comparative analysis of the rmif-2 and rmh-1 phenotypes revealed numerous commonalities, including in regulating CO formation and directing COs toward chromosome arms. Surprisingly, the prevalence of heterologous recombination was several fold lower in the rmif-2 mutant, suggesting that RMIF-2 may be dispensable or less strictly required for some BTR complex-mediated activities during meiosis.

Bloom syndrome is caused by mutations in proteins of the BTR complex (consisting of the Bloom helicase, topoisomerase 3, and the RMI1 and RMI2 scaffolding proteins) and the clinical characteristics are growth deficiency, short stature, skin photosensitivity, and increased cancer predisposition. At the cellular level, characteristic features are the presence of increased sister chromatid exchange on chromosomes; unresolved DNA recombination intermediates that eventually cause genome instability; and erroneous DNA repair by heterologous recombination (recombination between non-identical sequences, extremely rare in wild type animals), which can trigger translocations and chromosomal rearrangements. Identification of the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of RMI2 (called RMIF-2) allowed us to compare heterologous recombination in the germline of mutants of various BTR complex proteins. The heterologous recombination rate was several fold lower in rmif-2 mutants than in mutants of rmh-1 and him-6 (worm homologs of RMI1 and the Bloom helicase, respectively). Nevertheless, many phenotypic features point at RMIF-2 working together with RMH-1. If these germline functions of RMI2/RMIF-2 are conserved in humans, this might mean that individuals with RMI2 mutations have a lower risk of translocations and genome rearrangements than those with mutations in the other BTR complex genes.

FOXO/DAF-16 Activation Slows Down Turnover of the Majority of Proteins in C. elegans

Most aging hypotheses assume the accumulation of damage, resulting in gradual physiological decline and, ultimately, death. Avoiding protein damage accumulation by enhanced turnover should slow down the aging process and extend the lifespan. However, lowering translational efficiency extends rather than shortens the lifespan in C. elegans. We studied turnover of individual proteins in the long-lived daf-2 mutant by combining SILeNCe (stable isotope labeling by nitrogen in Caenorhabditiselegans) and mass spectrometry. Intriguingly, the majority of proteins displayed prolonged half-lives in daf-2, whereas others remained unchanged, signifying that longevity is not supported by high protein turnover. This slowdown was most prominent for translation-related and mitochondrial proteins. In contrast, the high turnover of lysosomal hydrolases and very low turnover of cytoskeletal proteins remained largely unchanged. The slowdown of protein dynamics and decreased abundance of the translational machinery may point to the importance of anabolic attenuation in lifespan extension, as suggested by the hyperfunction theory.

Rapid and precise engineering of the Caenorhabditis elegans genome with lethal mutation co-conversion and inactivation of NHEJ repair

As in other organisms, CRISPR/Cas9 methods provide a powerful approach for genome editing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Oligonucleotides are excellent repair templates for introducing substitutions and short insertions, as they are cost effective, require no cloning, and appear in other organisms to target changes by homologous recombination at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here, I describe a methodology in C. elegans to efficiently knock in epitope tags in 8–9 days, using a temperature-sensitive lethal mutation in the pha-1 gene as a co-conversion marker. I demonstrate that 60mer oligos with 29 bp of homology drive efficient knock-in of point mutations, and that disabling nonhomologous end joining by RNAi inactivation of the cku-80 gene significantly improves knock-in efficiency. Homology arms of 35–80 bp are sufficient for efficient editing and DSBs up to 54 bp away from the insertion site produced knock-ins. These findings will likely be applicable for a range of genome editing approaches in C. elegans, which will improve editing efficiency and minimize screening efforts.

Regulation of FoxO transcription factors by acetylation and protein-protein interactions

The forkhead box O transcription factors convert a variety of external stimuli, including growth factors, nutrients, and oxidative stress, into diverse biological responses through modulation of specific gene expression. Forkhead box O regulation is principally achieved by two distinct mechanisms: post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. Among several modifications of forkhead box O factors, we focus on reversible acetylation, describing past research and current advances. In the latter part of this review, we also provide an overview of forkhead box O-binding partners that control the transcriptional activity of forkhead box O factors. These two layers of regulation mostly overlap and thereby enable a more precise fine-tuning of forkhead box O functions involved in metabolism, longevity, and tumor suppression. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: PI3K-AKT-FoxO axis in cancer and aging.

Extreme-longevity mutations orchestrate silencing of multiple signaling pathways

Long-lived mutants provide unique insights into the genetic factors that limit lifespan in wild-type animals. Most mutants and RNA interference targets found to extend life, typically by 1.5- to 2.5-fold, were discovered in C. elegans. Several longevity-assurance pathways are conserved across widely divergent taxa, indicating that mechanisms of lifespan regulation evolved several hundred million years ago. Strong mutations to the C. elegans gene encoding AGE-1/PI3KCS achieve unprecedented longevity by orchestrating the modulation (predominantly silencing) of multiple signaling pathways. This is evident in a profound attenuation of total kinase activity, leading to reduced phosphoprotein content. Mutations to the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) have the potential to modulate all enzymes that depend on its product, PIP3, for membrane tethering or activation by other kinases. Remarkably, strong mutants inactivating PI3K also silence multiple signaling pathways at the transcript level, partially but not entirely mediated by the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor. Mammals have a relatively large proportion of somatic cells, and survival depends on their replication, whereas somatic cell divisions in nematodes are limited to development and reproductive tissues. Thus, translation of longevity gains from nematodes to mammals requires disentangling the downstream consequences of signaling mutations, to avoid their deleterious consequences.

Life span alteration after irradiation in Drosophila melanogaster strains with mutations of Hsf and Hsps

The life span alteration after gamma-irradiation and/or paraquat treatment in Drosophila in wild type strain Canton-S and strains with mutations of heat shock factor (1-4 alleles) and heat shock proteins (Hsp70Ba ( 304 ), Hsp83 ( e6A ), Hsp22 ( EY09909 ), Hsp67Bb ( EY099099 )) was investigated. Chronic low-dose rate gamma-irradiation (0.017 and 0.17 cGy/h) on pre-imago stages was used as a priming dose (absorbed doses were 4 and 40 cGy). Paraquat, a free radical inducing agent, was a challenging factor (20 mM for 1 day). It was shown that chronic irradiation led to adaptive response in both sexes except homozygous males and females with mutations of Hsf ( 4 ) and Hsp70Ba ( 304 ). The gender-specific differences in stress response were discovered in wild type strain Canton-S, Hsp22 ( EY09909 ) Hsp67Bb ( EY09909 ) homozygotes and Hsp83 ( e6A ) heterozygotes: the adaptive response persisted in males, but not in females. Thus, Drosophila Hsp and Hsf mutation homozygotes did not demonstrate the adaptive response in the majority of cases, implying an important role of those genes in radiation hormesis and adaptation to stresses.

Relationship between mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction, development, and life extension in Caenorhabditis elegans

Prior studies have shown that disruption of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can result in life extension. Counter to these findings, many mutations that disrupt ETC function in humans are known to be pathologically life-shortening. In this study, we have undertaken the first formal investigation of the role of partial mitochondrial ETC inhibition and its contribution to the life-extension phenotype of C. elegans. We have developed a novel RNA interference (RNAi) dilution strategy to incrementally reduce the expression level of five genes encoding mitochondrial proteins in C. elegans: atp-3, nuo-2, isp-1, cco-1, and frataxin (frh-1). We observed that each RNAi treatment led to marked alterations in multiple ETC components. Using this dilution technique, we observed a consistent, three-phase lifespan response to increasingly greater inhibition by RNAi: at low levels of inhibition, there was no response, then as inhibition increased, lifespan responded by monotonically lengthening. Finally, at the highest levels of RNAi inhibition, lifespan began to shorten. Indirect measurements of whole-animal oxidative stress showed no correlation with life extension. Instead, larval development, fertility, and adult size all became coordinately affected at the same point at which lifespan began to increase. We show that a specific signal, initiated during the L3/L4 larval stage of development, is sufficient for initiating mitochondrial dysfunction–dependent life extension in C. elegans. This stage of development is characterized by the last somatic cell divisions normally undertaken by C. elegans and also by massive mitochondrial DNA expansion. The coordinate effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on several cell cycle–dependent phenotypes, coupled with recent findings directly linking cell cycle progression with mitochondrial activity in C. elegans, lead us to propose that cell cycle checkpoint control plays a key role in specifying longevity of mitochondrial mutants.

The worm Caenorhabditis elegans has afforded major advances in our understanding of aging, in part because a limited number of genetic pathways appear to govern aging in this organism. In this study, we explore one class of long-lived C. elegans, the Mit mutants, which are characterized by defective mitochondrial electron transport chain activity and, hence, ATP production. How disruption of mitochondrial function could lead to life extension has remained a mystery, especially because some of the same genes that cause life extension in worms (including nuo-2 and frh-1), result in pathology in people. Here, we resolve this paradox by showing that life extension of the Mit mutants is limited to a discrete window of electron transport chain dysfunction. We show that the onset of life extension correlates with the disruption of several cell cycle–related phenomena, including larval development, adult size, and fertility and fecundity. We find no overt correlation between levels of oxidative stress and longevity. We propose that life extension in the Mit mutants is intimately connected to DNA checkpoint signaling and that the Mit mutants provide a powerful model for studying human mitochondrial disorders and aging.

Previous publications showed that the inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport in C. elegans both extended and decreased lifespan. Here this paradox is resolved by showing that the fate depends on the degree of inhibition.

Pharmacogenetic analysis of lithium-induced delayed aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

Lithium (Li(+)) has been used to treat mood affect disorders, including bipolar, for decades. This drug is neuroprotective and has several identified molecular targets. However, it has a narrow therapeutic range and the one or more underlying mechanisms of its therapeutic action are not understood. Here we describe a pharmacogenetic study of Li(+) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Exposure to Li(+) at clinically relevant concentrations throughout adulthood increases survival during normal aging (up to 46% median increase). Longevity is extended via a novel mechanism with altered expression of genes encoding nucleosome-associated functions. Li(+) treatment results in reduced expression of the worm ortholog of LSD-1 (T08D10.2), a histone demethylase; knockdown by RNA interference of T08D10.2 is sufficient to extend longevity ( approximately 25% median increase), suggesting Li(+) regulates survival by modulating histone methylation and chromatin structure.

DNA repair and PARP in aging

Half a century ago, when the free radical theory of aging was first proposed, the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were in the focus of attention and considered the single most important determinant of aging. Two decades later, however, the disposable soma theory of aging redirected the attention to the potential impact of cellular maintenance and repair pathways that are both genetically and environmentally determined and are counteracting the damaging effects of ROS. In the present paper, recent experimental data linking DNA repair pathways with the aging process are summarised. Special attention is paid to poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, a DNA-damage driven posttranslational modification of proteins.

An integrated view of oxidative stress in aging: basic mechanisms, functional effects, and pathological considerations

Aging is an inherently complex process that is manifested within an organism at genetic, molecular, cellular, organ, and system levels. Although the fundamental mechanisms are still poorly understood, a growing body of evidence points toward reactive oxygen species (ROS) as one of the primary determinants of aging. The "oxidative stress theory" holds that a progressive and irreversible accumulation of oxidative damage caused by ROS impacts on critical aspects of the aging process and contributes to impaired physiological function, increased incidence of disease, and a reduction in life span. While compelling correlative data have been generated to support the oxidative stress theory, a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the accumulation of oxidatively mediated damage and aging has not been strongly established. The goal of this minireview is to broadly describe mechanisms of in vivo ROS generation, examine the potential impact of ROS and oxidative damage on cellular function, and evaluate how these responses change with aging in physiologically relevant situations. In addition, the mounting genetic evidence that links oxidative stress to aging is discussed, as well as the potential challenges and benefits associated with the development of anti-aging interventions and therapies.

VEGF-A stimulation of leukocyte adhesion to colonic microvascular endothelium: implications for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by increased leukocyte recruitment and subsequent tissue damage. An increase in the density of the microvasculature of the colon during IBD has been suggested, leading to the concept that angiogenesis may play a pathological role in IBD. Increased tissue and serum levels of the angiogenic cytokine VEGF-A have been reported in cases of active IBD. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that VEGF-A exerts a proinflammatory effect on colon microvascular endothelium that contributes to colonic inflammation. Leukocyte adhesion to VEGF-A-stimulated colon microvascular endothelial cells was examined using a parallel-plate hydrodynamic flow chamber. ICAM-1 adhesion molecule expression on colonic microvascular endothelium also was determined in response to VEGF-A stimulation, along with characterization of leukocyte adhesion molecule expression. High-dose VEGF-A (50 ng/ml) stimulation increased neutrophil and T cell adhesion to and decreased rolling velocities on activated endothelium, whereas low-dose VEGF-A (10 ng/ml) was without effect. Colonic endothelium constitutively expressed ICAM-1, which was significantly increased by treatment with 50 ng/ml VEGF-A or 10 ng/ml TNF-alpha but not 10 ng/ml VEGF-A. T cells expressed CD18 and CD11a with no expression of CD11b, whereas neutrophils expressed CD18, CD11a, and CD11b. Finally, VEGF-A-dependent leukocyte adhesion was found to occur in a CD18-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that VEGF-A levels found in IBD exert a proinflammatory effect similar to other inflammatory agents and suggest that this cytokine may serve as an intermediary between angiogenic stimulation and cell-mediated immune responses.