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Passage through stationary phase advances replicative aging in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
K Ashrafi1, D Sinclair, J I Gordon
1Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Summary
Nutrient starvation shortens yeast cell lifespan without genetic damage, revealing aging factors independent of extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA circles (ERCs). This study offers insights into aging in non-dividing cells.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Aging Research
- Yeast Genetics
Background:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae mother cells exhibit an aging program.
- This program involves morphologic changes, sterility, and altered gene silencing.
- Key features include Sir complex redistribution and extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA circles (ERCs) accumulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of nutrient starvation on yeast cell lifespan.
- To determine if starvation-induced lifespan reduction is heritable.
- To explore the relationship between starvation, aging, and ERC accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Yeast cell culture under nutrient starvation in stationary phase.
- Monitoring generational lifespan upon re-entry into the cell cycle.
- Comparative analysis of aging markers between starved and non-starved cells.
Main Results:
- Prolonged nutrient starvation significantly decreased generational lifespan.
- The shortened lifespan was not transmitted to progeny, suggesting no irreversible genetic damage.
- Accelerated aging hallmarks were observed, but ERC accumulation was not increased compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Starvation reveals an aging component parallel to ERC accumulation.
- Yeast stationary phase provides a model for studying aging in non-dividing eukaryotic cells.
- Factors influencing aging in quiescent cells can be identified using this system.