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Epigenetic factors Polycomb (Pc) and Suppressor of zeste (Su(z)2) negatively regulate longevity in Drosophila melanogaster

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Abstract

The process of aging is a hallmark of the natural life span of all organisms and individuals within a population show variability in the measures of age related performance. Longevity and the rate of aging are influenced by several factors such as genetics, nutrition, stress, and environment. Many studies have focused on the genes that impact aging and there is increasing evidence that epigenetic factors regulate these genes to control life span. Polycomb (PcG) and trithorax (trxG) protein complexes maintain the expression profiles of developmentally important genes and regulate many cellular processes. Here, we report that mutations of PcG and trxG members affect the process of aging in Drosophila melanogaster, with perturbations mostly associated with retardation in aging. We find that mutations in polycomb repressive complex (PRC1) components Pc and Su(z)2 increase fly survival. Using an inducible UAS-GAL4 system, we show that this effect is tissue-specific; knockdown in fat body, but not in muscle or brain tissues, enhances life span. We hypothesize that these two proteins influence life span via pathways independent of their PRC1 functions, with distinct effects on response to oxidative stress. Our observations highlight the role of global epigenetic regulators in determining life span.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge F Karch, Yacine Graba, Mel Feany and BDSC for fly strains and Prashanth Budnar for suggestions.

Funding

This study was funded by SERB, a statutory body under the Government of India’s Department of Science & Technology. SK is supported by DST-INSPIRE fellowship. RKM lab is supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BSC0208) and Department of Biotechnology (Government of India).

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Correspondence to Rakesh K. Mishra.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dasari, V., Srivastava, S., Khan, S. et al. Epigenetic factors Polycomb (Pc) and Suppressor of zeste (Su(z)2) negatively regulate longevity in Drosophila melanogaster . Biogerontology 19, 33–45 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-017-9737-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-017-9737-1

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