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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: May 18, 2022
Extension of C. elegans lifespan using the ·NO-delivery dinitrosyl iron complexes
Hsiao-Wen Huang1, Yen-Hung Lin2, Min-Hsuan Lin3
1Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The ubiquitous and emerging physiology function of endogenous nitric oxide in vascular, myocardial, immune, and neuronal systems prompts chemists to develop a prodrug for the controlled delivery of ·NO in vivo and for the translational biomedical application. Inspired by the discovery of natural [Fe(NO)2] motif, herein, we develop the synthetic dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) [Fe2(μ-SR)2(NO)4] (1) as a universal platform for the O2-triggered release of ·NO, for the regulation of ·NO-release kinetics (half-life = 0.6-27.4 h), and for the activation of physiological function of ·NO. Using C. elegans as a model organism, the ·NO-delivery DNIC 1 regulates IIS signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, and mitochondrial function pathway to extend the lifespan and to delay the aging process based on the lifespan analysis, SA-βgal activity assay, and next-generation RNA sequencing analysis. This study unveils the anti-aging effect of ·NO and develops DNICs as a chemical biology probe for the continued discovery of unprecedented NO physiology.
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