Extension of life-span by loss of CHICO, a Drosophila insulin receptor substrate protein

Science. 2001 Apr 6;292(5514):104-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1057991.

Abstract

The Drosophila melanogaster gene chico encodes an insulin receptor substrate that functions in an insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, insulin/IGF signaling regulates adult longevity. We found that mutation of chico extends fruit fly median life-span by up to 48% in homozygotes and 36% in heterozygotes. Extension of life-span was not a result of impaired oogenesis in chico females, nor was it consistently correlated with increased stress resistance. The dwarf phenotype of chico homozygotes was also unnecessary for extension of life-span. The role of insulin/IGF signaling in regulating animal aging is therefore evolutionarily conserved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Body Constitution
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fertility
  • Genes, Insect
  • Heterozygote
  • Hot Temperature
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Longevity / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases*
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism*
  • Reproduction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Somatomedins / metabolism
  • Starvation
  • Superoxide Dismutase

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Somatomedins
  • chico protein, Drosophila
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • InR protein, Drosophila
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, Insulin