Dissecting the genetics of longevity inDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster has been an historically important system for investigating the genetic basis of longevity, and will continue to be valuable as new technologies permit genomic explorations into the biology of aging. The utility of D. melanogaster resides in two resources: its powerful genetic tools as a model system, and a natural ecology that provides substantial genetic variation across significant environmental heterogeneity. Here we provide a review of the genetics of longevity in D. melanogaster, in which we describe the characterization of individual aging genes, the complexity of the genetic architecture of this quantitative trait, and the evaluation of natural genetic variation in the evolution of life histories.

Suitability of the clonal marbled crayfish for biogerontological research: a review and perspective, with remarks on some further crustaceans

“…Moreover, techniques for the identification of genes and their products are more and more adopted for shrimp and crayfish (Shechter et al 2007;Robalino et al 2009). For the short term, the gap of knowledge on genetics of ageing in decapod crustaceans could be bridged by searching for ageing genes on the basis of Drosophila data (Helfand and Rogina 2003;Kennedy 2008;Paaby and Schmidt 2009). Since the Crustacea and Hexapoda are taxonomical sister groups (Giribet et al 2005) many orthologous genes are expected to be shared by the marbled crayfish and the fly.…”

Reproductive activity triggers accelerated male mortality and decreases lifespan: genetic and gene expression determinants in Drosophila

“…The segments contain protein coding genes and microRNAs that are best candidates for further analyses aiming at pinpointing the identity of loci mediating the phenotype. Although analysis of variation in longevity among lines pointed to a segment containing the gene hep, a known factor associated with aging in Drosophila (Seong et al, 2001;Wang et al, 2003Wang et al, , 2005Paaby and Schmidt, 2009;Omelyanchuk et al, 2015), the genes residing in the segments associated with accelerated mortality post-reproduction are less amenable to functional interpretations. Male-female interactions can be experimentally modeled through a number of designs that themselves make the contribution of copulation, courting, diffusible compounds, ejaculate composition and/or other attributes more or less salient.…”

“…This 60 kb X-linked segment with higher probability of containing genetic factors that contribute to variation in aging among genotypes ( Figure 5) harbors 7 protein-coding genes. One of these genes is the protein-coding gene hemipterous (hep) that encodes a protein kinase that has long been known to affect aging in Drosophila (Seong et al, 2001;Wang et al, 2003Wang et al, , 2005Paaby and Schmidt, 2009;Omelyanchuk et al, 2015). In view of this observation we proceeded to investigate the association between reproductioninduced male mortality and genetic variation in the DSPR.…”

Drosophila melanogasteras a model system for the evaluation of anti-aging compounds

“…24 However, caution is recommended in the interpretation of these findings. On some occasions, increased lifespans due to genetic manipulations are not replicated in independent laboratories, suggesting that the particular modification may be specific to certain diets or environments present, or possibly due to some other cofounding factor, such as mutation in another locus.…”