THE AGE-1 AND DAF-2 GENES FUNCTION IN A COMMON PATHWAY TO CONTROL THELIFE-SPAN OF CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS

Recessive mutations in two genes, daf-2 and age-1, extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans significantly. The daf-2 gene also regulate s formation of an alternative developmental state called the dauer. He re we asked whether these two genes function in the same or different lifespan pathways. We found that the longevity of both age-1 and daf-2 mutants requires the activities of the same two genes, daf-16 and daf -18. In addition, the daf-2(e1370); age-1(hx546) double mutant did not live significantly longer than the daf-2 single mutant. We also found that, like daf-2 mutations, the age-1(hx546) mutation affects certain aspects of dauer formation. These findings suggest that age-1 and daf -2 mutations do act in the same lifespan pathway and extend lifespan b y triggering similar if not identical processes.