The Neuronal Kinesin UNC-104/KIF1A Is a Key Regulator of Synaptic Aging and Insulin Signaling-Regulated Memory. Author Ling-Bo Li, Haoyun Lei, Rachel Arey, Pengpeng Li, Jianfeng Liu, Coleen Murphy, X Xu, Kang Shen Publication Year 2016 Type Journal Article Abstract Aging is the greatest risk factor for a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, normal aging is associated with a decline in sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. Emerging evidence suggests that synapse alterations, rather than neuronal cell death, are the causes of neuronal dysfunctions in normal aging and in early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying age-related synaptic decline. Here, we uncover a surprising role of the anterograde molecular motor UNC-104/KIF1A as a key regulator of neural circuit deterioration in aging C. elegans. Through analyses of synapse protein localization, synaptic transmission, and animal behaviors, we find that reduced function of UNC-104 accelerates motor circuit dysfunction with age, whereas upregulation of UNC-104 significantly improves motor function at advanced ages and also mildly extends lifespan. In addition, UNC-104-overexpressing animals outperform wild-type controls in associative learning and memory tests. Further genetic analyses suggest that UNC-104 functions downstream of the DAF-2-signaling pathway and is regulated by the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16, which contributes to the effects of DAF-2 in neuronal aging. Together, our cellular, electrophysiological, and behavioral analyses highlight the importance of axonal transport in the maintenance of synaptic structural integrity and function during aging and raise the possibility of targeting kinesins to slow age-related neural circuit dysfunction. Keywords Animals, Signal Transduction, Aging, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Insulin, Memory, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Synapses Journal Curr Biol Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 605-15 Date Published 03/2016 ISSN Number 1879-0445 DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.068 Alternate Journal Curr. Biol. PMCID PMC4783184 PMID 26877087 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML