Research report 2012 - Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing

Reproduction and longevity - a close connection regulated by a molecular switch

Authors
Shen, Yidong; Wollam, Joshua; Magner, Daniel; Karalay, Özlem; Antebi, Adam
Departments
Abteilung Molekulare Genetik des Alterns
Summary
All animals develop through successive life stages and have life spans that are determined by genes and environment, yet how the molecular circuitry underlying life stage structure relates to longevity is poorly understood. We show that the same molecular switch used for Caenorhabditis elegans developmental timing is co-opted to regulate adult longevity in response to signals from the reproductive system. These studies reveal that metazoan life span is coupled to the gonads through elements of a developmental clock.

For the full text, see the German version.

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