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| JOY ALCEDO |
| Neuroendocrine regulation of lifespan in C. elegans |
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| How does an organism age? What neural mechanisms influence the aging process? The lifespan of the nematode C. elegans is influenced by mutations and treatments inhibiting the function of sensory neurons. This suggests that lifespan can be regulated by the perception of environmental cues. We have shown that specific sensory neurons inhibit longevity, whereas others promote longevity. We have also shown that these neurons influence lifespan through endocrine signaling pathways controlling animal physiology. However, it remains unclear how the sensory system elicits physiological changes that ultimately determine animal lifespan. Using a combination of genetic, cellular and molecular approaches, we aim to (1) identify sensory and neuroendocrine pathways that regulate lifespan, (2) determine whether the sensory control of lifespan involves a neural circuit, (3) discover whether this regulation is conserved in other animals. Our finding that putative sensory genes influence lifespan provides an excellent opportunity to elucidate this process. |
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