ecl family genes: Factors linking starvation and lifespan extension in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Abstract

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the duration of survival in the stationary phase, termed the chronological lifespan (CLS), is affected by various environmental factors and the corresponding gene activities. The ecl family genes were identified in the genomic region encoding non‐coding RNA as positive regulators of CLS in S. pombe, and subsequently shown to encode relatively short proteins. Several studies revealed that ecl family genes respond to various nutritional starvation conditions via different mechanisms, and they are additionally involved in stress resistance, autophagy, sexual differentiation, and cell cycle control. Recent studies reported that Ecl family proteins strongly suppress target of rapamycin complex 1, which is a conserved eukaryotic nutrient‐sensing kinase complex that also regulates longevity in a variety of organisms. In this review, we introduce the regulatory mechanisms of Ecl family proteins and discuss their emerging findings.

Low‐Molecular Weight Compounds that Extend the Chronological Lifespan of Yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe

“…[193][194][195][196] In S. pombe, ecl genes are induced by signals, including starvation of sulfur sources, amino acids, and magnesium, which then induce CLS extension, sexual differentiation, and autophagy. [197][198][199][200] In addition, Ecl protein inhibits the activity of TORC1 under starvation. [201,202] Thus, EDTA-induced CLS extension may mimic zinc starvation and may occur via activation of ecl genes and suppression of their downstream TORC1 pathway.…”

PomBase: a Global Core Biodata Resource—growth, collaboration, and sustainability

“…2021 ), epigenetic inheritance ( Grewal 2023 ), telomere biology ( Kanoh 2023 ), and many other core-conserved cellular processes. More recently, aging ( Ohtsuka et al . 2023 ), autophagy ( Alao et al .…”