Abstract
The insulin/IGF-1 (where IGF-1 is insulin-like growth factor-1) signaling pathway influences longevity, reproduction, and diapause in many organisms. Because of the fundamental importance of this system in animal physiology, we asked when during the animal's life it is required to regulate these different processes. We find that in Caenorhabditis elegans, the pathway acts during adulthood, to relatively advanced ages, to influence aging. In contrast, it regulates diapause during development. In addition, the pathway controls longevity and reproduction independently of one another. Together our findings show that life-span regulation can be dissociated temporally from phenotypes that might seem to decrease the quality of life.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Aging
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
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Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
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DEAD-box RNA Helicases
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Insulin / physiology*
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / physiology*
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Life Cycle Stages / physiology
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Longevity
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Mutation
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Oxidative Stress
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RNA Helicases / genetics
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RNA Helicases / physiology
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RNA Interference
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Receptor, Insulin / genetics
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Receptor, Insulin / physiology*
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Reproduction
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Signal Transduction*
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Temperature
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Insulin
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Transcription Factors
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daf-16 protein, C elegans
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
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DAF-2 protein, C elegans
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Receptor, Insulin
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DRH-1 protein, C elegans
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DEAD-box RNA Helicases
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RNA Helicases