permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6612411.stm>
Last Updated: Wednesday, 2 May 2007, 18:38 GMT 19:38 UK
Gene clue to longevity uncovered
By Rebecca Morelle
Science reporter, BBC News

Nematode worm (Siler Panowski)
The study was carried out on nematode worms
The mystery of how eating less boosts longevity is closer to being solved.

Studies have shown that severe calorie restriction markedly extends lifespan in mice and many other species - but the 
reasons for this remained elusive.

But now US research on nematode worms, published in Nature, has uncovered a 
gene linked to this unusual effect.

In the future, the find could lead to drugs that mimic the consequences of calorie restriction but negate the need for 
severe fasting regimes.

Sweet-spot

The life-lengthening properties of reducing calorie intake were first discovered in the 1930s, when laboratory rodents 
fed a severely reduced diet were found to outlive their well-fed peers.

Since then, this effect has been observed on organisms as diverse as yeast, 
flies, worms and dogs.

The consequences for humans of cutting calorie intake by about 60% while maintaining levels of vital nutrients are still 
unclear, although this extreme diet has a number of followers.

Andrew Dillin, an author of the paper and an associate professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, said: "If 
you reduce food too much, you go towards starvation and live less long. If you overeat you will succumb to obesity and 
have a short lifespan. Dietary restriction is really a sweet-spot between the two.

"But for 72 years, we have not known how it works."

Nematode worm (Siler Panowski)
The scientists say mammals have a similar gene to pha-4
A study using nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) revealed that a gene 
called pha-4 played a key role.

The team found worms that had their pha-4 genes removed showed no enhanced 
longevity while on the restricted diet.

But they discovered that the opposite experiment - over-expressing levels of pha-4 in the worms - increased longevity 
when on the restricted diet.

"This is the first gene we have found that is absolutely essential to the longevity response to dietary restriction," 
explained Dr Dillin.

"We finally have genetic evidence to unravel the underlying molecular programme required for increased longevity in 
response to calorie restriction."

Feast or famine

Although the study was carried out on worms, the finding could also be 
important for other species.

Mammals, including humans, possessed genes that were highly similar to the 
pha-4 gene, explained Dr Dillin.

        
Bob Cavanaugh

Eat less, live longer?

These genes play a key role in development, and then in later life in the regulation of glucagon, a hormone that has a 
major role in maintaining glucose levels in blood - especially during fasting.

In fact, scientists believe the life-increasing effect of dietary restriction may be linked to boosting chances of 
survival through times of food scarcity.

"Pha-4 may be the primordial gene to help an animal overcome stressful conditions to live a long time through dietary 
restriction conditions," explained Dr Dillin.

Parallels?

Scientists now plan to look at the gene in other species.

Should the longevity link also apply to humans, it could open the door to the development of drugs that mimic the 
effects of calorie restriction while allowing people to maintain their normal diet, the scientists said.

Professor Richard Miller of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan, commented: "It is really hard to 
guess whether the connections that we see between the pha-4 system and calorie restriction in worms will have parallels 
in mammals, whose repertoire of responses to various forms of long- and short-term food shortages are far more complex 
than those of worms.

"But the Dillin paper provides both motivation to look and also clues about where to look. I think it's likely to be 
influential, even if the implications for mammals do eventually turn out to be a cul-de-sac - which they might or might 
not."

E-mail this to a friend         Printable version

                
SEE ALSO
Extreme dieting: Eat less, live longer?
02 May 07 |  Science/Nature
Low calorie diet 'could halt cancer'
27 Jun 01 |  Health
Red wine health locations found
30 Nov 06 |  Health
Fruit fly clue to a long life
17 Aug 98 |  Health
Low-cal diet 'long-life benefits'
05 Apr 06 |  Health
Yeast intake linked to longevity
30 May 05 |  Health
Diets 'may slow ageing'
29 Oct 02 |  Science/Nature
Scientists at odds over longevity
28 Mar 06 |  Science/Nature

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Nature
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
University of Michigan
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

TOP SCIENCE/NATURE STORIES
Gene clue to longevity uncovered
School science changes 'rushed'
'Up to half' of Mars may have ice
News feeds| News feeds