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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Functional Cloning Using a Xenopus Oocyte Expression System
Published on: January 30, 2016
All roads lead to FoxO
Michihiro Matsumoto1, Domenico Accili
1Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Abstract:
Stress-activated kinases control metabolism by antagonizing the early steps of insulin signal transduction. Two papers now demonstrate that Jnk, the prototypical stress-activated kinase, controls life span in Drosophila and C. elegans by promoting phosphorylation of the forkhead protein FoxO (Oh et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2005). The findings provide yet another mechanism by which metabolic and stress responses are integrated via phosphorylation of FoxO proteins.
Insights
Stress-activated kinases, like c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), regulate metabolism and lifespan. JNK promotes lifespan extension by phosphorylating the FoxO protein in model organisms.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Aging Research
Background:
- Stress-activated kinases play a crucial role in cellular responses.
- These kinases are known to influence metabolic pathways.
- Insulin signaling is a key pathway regulated by stress responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of stress-activated kinases in lifespan regulation.
- To determine the mechanism by which Jnk influences lifespan.
- To explore the link between metabolic control, stress response, and aging.
Main Methods:
- Studies in model organisms Drosophila and C. elegans.
- Analysis of the phosphorylation of the forkhead protein FoxO.
- Investigating the role of Jnk, a stress-activated kinase.
Main Results:
- Jnk, a stress-activated kinase, was found to control lifespan in both Drosophila and C. elegans.
- Jnk promotes lifespan extension through the phosphorylation of the FoxO protein.
- This phosphorylation links stress responses to metabolic regulation.
Conclusions:
- The findings establish Jnk as a key regulator of lifespan.
- Phosphorylation of FoxO by Jnk integrates stress and metabolic signals.
- This provides a novel mechanism connecting cellular stress responses to aging.
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