Extended Life-Span and Stress Resistance in the Drosophila Mutant methuselah
Yi-Jyun Lin,
Laurent Seroude,
Seymour Benzer
*
Toward a genetic dissection of the processes involved in aging, a
screen for gene mutations that extend life-span in Drosophila melanogaster was performed. The mutant line methuselah
(mth) displayed approximately 35 percent increase in average
life-span and enhanced resistance to various forms of stress, including
starvation, high temperature, and dietary paraquat, a free-radical
generator. The mth gene predicted a protein with homology to
several guanosine triphosphate-binding protein-coupled
seven-transmembrane domain receptors. Thus, the organism may use
signal transduction pathways to modulate stress response and life-span.
Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena,
CA 91125, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
benzer{at}caltech.edu