The hunger strikes back: an epigenetic memory for autophagy

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Genetics
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Food deprivation and famine exposure are linked to long-term health issues and transgenerational effects on offspring disease risk and longevity.
• Autophagy is a conserved cellular process crucial for responding to nutrient starvation by mobilizing internal nutrients and generating energy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence linking autophagy induction to improved health span and lifespan.
• To explore autophagy-induced chromatin remodeling as a mechanism for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of hunger.

Main Methods:

• Review of evidence from multiple model organisms.
• Analysis of studies on dietary regimes involving reduced food intake.
• Examination of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications.

Main Results:

• Evidence from model organisms supports the association between autophagy induction and extended lifespan and health span.
• Dietary interventions that reduce food intake can induce autophagy.
• Autophagy-induced chromatin remodeling, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, is proposed as a mechanism for epigenetic inheritance.

Conclusions:

• Autophagy induction, potentially through dietary interventions, is linked to beneficial effects on health span and lifespan.
• Epigenetic modifications induced by autophagy may mediate the transgenerational inheritance of traits related to hunger and its effects.