Autophagy regulates ageing in C. elegans

Autophagy. 2007 Mar-Apr;3(2):93-5. doi: 10.4161/auto.3636. Epub 2007 Mar 30.

Abstract

The role of autophagy in ageing regulation has been suggested based on studies in C. elegans, in which knockdown of the expression of bec-1 (ortholog of the yeast and mammalian autophagy genes ATG6/VPS30 and beclin 1, respectively) shortens lifespan of the daf-2(e1370) mutant C. elegans. However, Beclin1/ATG6 is also known to be involved in other cellular functions in addition to autophagy. In the current study, we knocked down two other autophagy genes, atg-7 and atg-12, in C. elegans using RNAi. We showed that RNAi shortened the lifespan of both wild type and daf-2 mutant C. elegans, providing strong support for a role of autophagy in ageing regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Autophagy / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Longevity / physiology*
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • RNA Interference
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins