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Quantification of Information Encoded by Gene Expression Levels During Lifespan Modulation Under Broad-range Dietary Restriction in C. elegans
Published on: August 16, 2017
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Quantification of Information Encoded by Gene Expression Levels During Lifespan Modulation Under Broad-range Dietary
Dhaval S Patel1, Giovanni Diana1, Eugeni V Entchev1
1Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|September 6, 2017
Summary
This study reveals that specific genes control how food availability impacts lifespan in C. elegans. These genes process environmental information within neural circuits to modulate longevity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Aging Research
Background:
- Animal sensory systems detect environmental cues, influencing physiology and behavior.
- Food abundance significantly impacts animal longevity, a process previously thought to be simpler.
- Specific genes mediating lifespan responses to food levels were identified in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a workflow for characterizing genes involved in broad-range dietary restriction.
- To elucidate how specific genes regulate lifespan under varying food conditions.
- To quantify the information gene expression conveys about environmental food abundance.
Main Methods:
- Genetic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans.
- High-throughput quantitative imaging techniques.
- Information theory applied to gene expression data.
Main Results:
- A framework combining genetic analysis, imaging, and information theory was developed.
- The workflow can reveal gene regulation of lifespan under dietary restriction.
- It quantifies gene expression's information content regarding food abundance.
Conclusions:
- Gene expression within neural circuits plays a key role in modulating lifespan in response to food.
- This approach provides an unbiased method to study gene function in dietary restriction.
- Examining multiple genes can uncover neural circuit coding strategies for environmental information.
