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Insulin and JNK: optimizing metabolic homeostasis and lifespan
Jason Karpac1, Heinrich Jasper
1Department of Biology, University of Rochester, River Campus Box 270211, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
Abstract:
Metabolic adaptation to environmental changes is crucial for the long-term survival of an organism. Signaling mechanisms that govern this adaptation thus influence lifespan. One such mechanism is the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway, a central regulator of metabolism in metazoans. Recent studies have identified the stress-responsive Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway as a regulator of IIS signaling, providing a link between environmental challenges and metabolic regulation. JNK inhibits IIS activity and, thus, promotes lifespan extension and stress tolerance. Interestingly, this interaction is also at the center of age-related metabolic diseases. Here, we review recent advances illuminating the mechanisms of the JNK-IIS interaction and its implications for metabolic diseases and lifespan in metazoans.
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