Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Yeast Signaling

Yeast Signaling

Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus). Cell signaling in yeast is similar to signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A ligand, such as a protein or a small molecule released from a yeast cell, attaches to a receptor on the cell surface. The binding stimulates second-messenger kinases to activate or inactivate transcription factors that further regulate gene expression. Many of the yeast intracellular signaling cascades have similar...

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...

Bioreactor Controls-III

Bioreactor Controls-III

Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

SNF1/AMPK controls its own localization by phosphorylating its activating kinase Sak1.

iScience·2026

Same author

Protocol to study direct (de)phosphorylation events on a proteome-wide scale using on-bead in vitro enzyme assays.

STAR protocols·2026

Same author

Author Correction: TORC1 controls G<sub>1</sub>-S cell cycle transition in yeast via Mpk1 and the greatwall kinase pathway.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Global genetic interaction network of a human cell maps conserved principles and informs functional interpretation of gene co-essentiality profiles.

Cell·2026

Same author

Structural basis for TORC2 activation.

Molecular cell·2026

Same author

The nitrogen starvation-induced inhibitor Rts3 restrains Sit4/PP6 to gate quiescence downstream of TORC1.

Nature communications·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

Caffeine extends yeast lifespan by targeting TORC1.

Valeria Wanke¹, Elisabetta Cameroni, Aino Uotila

¹Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva Medical School CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

Molecular Microbiology

|June 3, 2008

Summary

Dietary restriction extends lifespan by regulating nutrient-sensitive kinases. Inhibiting the TORC1-Sch9 pathway with rapamycin or caffeine releases Rim15, promoting longevity in yeast and potentially other eukaryotes.

More Related Videos

Measuring Replicative Life Span in the Budding Yeast

Measuring Replicative Life Span in the Budding Yeast

Published on: June 25, 2009

Continuous High-resolution Microscopic Observation of Replicative Aging in Budding Yeast

Continuous High-resolution Microscopic Observation of Replicative Aging in Budding Yeast

Published on: August 20, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

Measuring Replicative Life Span in the Budding Yeast

Measuring Replicative Life Span in the Budding Yeast

Published on: June 25, 2009

Continuous High-resolution Microscopic Observation of Replicative Aging in Budding Yeast

Continuous High-resolution Microscopic Observation of Replicative Aging in Budding Yeast

Published on: August 20, 2013

Area of Science:

Molecular biology
Genetics
Biochemistry

Background:

Dietary restriction (DR) is a known lifespan-extending intervention across diverse organisms.
The precise molecular mechanisms linking DR to longevity remain incompletely understood.
Nutrient-sensitive kinases like TORC1, Sch9, PKA, and Rim15 are implicated in DR's effects in yeast.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the molecular pathway connecting nutrient-sensitive kinases to lifespan extension.
To investigate the inhibitory relationship between Sch9 and Rim15.
To determine the effect of TORC1 inhibition on this pathway and organismal lifespan.

Main Methods:

Utilized the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Investigated direct phosphorylation events between kinases using biochemical assays.
Administered specific inhibitors: rapamycin (TORC1 inhibitor) and caffeine.
Monitored lifespan changes in response to inhibitor treatments.

Main Results:

Confirmed TORC1 directly phosphorylates and activates Sch9.
Demonstrated that Sch9 directly phosphorylates and inhibits Rim15.
Showed that rapamycin or caffeine treatment disrupts TORC1-Sch9-mediated inhibition of Rim15.
Observed a consequent increase in yeast lifespan upon pathway inhibition.

Conclusions:

A conserved kinase cascade involving TORC1, Sch9, and Rim15 mediates lifespan regulation in response to nutrient availability.
Inhibition of this pathway, notably via caffeine, can extend lifespan.
Caffeine's potential to promote longevity may extend to other eukaryotes, including humans.