RNAi targeting Caenorhabditis elegans α-arrestins has little effect on lifespan

Sangsoon Park,Dae-Eun Jeong,Seung-Jae V Lee,Heehwa G Son,Wooseon Hwang,Yoonji Jung,Murat Artan,Yujin Lee,Seon Woo A An,Dongyeop Lee,Hae-Eun H Park

doi:10.12688/f1000research.12337.3

Sangsoon Park, Dae-Eun Jeong + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.12337.3

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Abstract

Background: α-arrestins are a family of proteins that are implicated in multiple biological processes, including metabolism and receptor desensitization. Methods: Here, we sought to examine the roles of α-arrestins in the longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans through an RNA interference screen. Results: We found that knocking down each of 24 out of total 29 C. elegans α-arrestins had little effect on lifespan. Thus, individual C. elegans α-arrestins may have minor effects on longevity. Conclusions: This study will provide useful information for future research on the functional role of α-arrestins in aging and longevity.

Highlights

C. elegans is an excellent genetic model organism that has been exploited for studying conserved biological processes, including apoptosis, behavior, development and aging
RNA interference (RNAi) targeting some α-arrestins might be insufficient for causing strong lifespan phenotypes
This may be because many of C. elegans α-arrestins are predicted to be expressed in neurons7,9,24–26, which are refractory to RNAi27–29

Summary

Introduction

C. elegans is an excellent genetic model organism that has been exploited for studying conserved biological processes, including apoptosis, behavior, development and aging. Many factors, including components in insulin/ insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS), have been identified as lifespan and aging regulators in C. Genetic inhibition of IIS components, such as DAF-2/insulin/IGF-1 receptor, robustly extends lifespan and delays physiological aging through up-regulating transcription factors, including DAF-16/FOXO11–13. One of the powerful ways to identify novel factors that influence aging is by employing genetic screens, such as an RNA interference (RNAi) screen. We previously identified several genetic factors, including RNA helicases, that modulate longevity in C. elegans, through targeted or genome-wide RNAi screens. Because of its robust longevity phenotype that confers sensitivity to changes in lifespan, daf-2/insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutants serve as an excellent platform for the identification of novel lifespan-regulating factors

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