Title | Regulation of aging and age-related disease by DAF-16 and heat-shock factor. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2003 |
Authors | Hsu, A-L, Murphy, CT, Kenyon, C |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 300 |
Issue | 5622 |
Pagination | 1142-5 |
Date Published | 2003 May 16 |
Keywords | Aging, Animals, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Heat-Shock Response, Insulin, Longevity, Mutation, Receptor, IGF Type 1, Receptor, Insulin, Transcription Factors |
Abstract | The Caenorhabditis elegans transcription factor HSF-1, which regulates the heat-shock response, also influences aging. Reducing hsf-1 activity accelerates tissue aging and shortens life-span, and we show that hsf-1 overexpression extends lifespan. We find that HSF-1, like the transcription factor DAF-16, is required for daf-2-insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutations to extend life-span. Our findings suggest this is because HSF-1 and DAF-16 together activate expression of specific genes, including genes encoding small heat-shock proteins, which in turn promote longevity. The small heat-shock proteins also delay the onset of polyglutamine-expansion protein aggregation, suggesting that these proteins couple the normal aging process to this type of age-related disease. |
Alternate Journal | Science |