Gene expression profile of aging and its retardation by caloric restriction

The gene expression profile of the aging process was analyzed in skeletal m uscle of mice. Use of high-density oligonucleotide arrays representing 6347 genes revealed that aging resulted in a differential gene expression patte rn indicative of a marked stress response and Lower expression of metabolic and biosynthetic genes. Most alterations were either completely or partial ly prevented by caloric restriction, the only intervention known to retard aging in mammals. Transcriptional patterns of calorie-restricted animals su ggest that caloric restriction retards the aging process by causing a metab olic shift toward increased protein turnover and decreased macromolecular d amage.