2016_Virk_CR.pdf (6.54 MB)
Folate acts in E. coli to accelerate C. elegans aging independently of bacterial biosynthesis
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 07:43 authored by Virk, B, Jia, J, Maynard, CA, Raimundo, A, Lefebvre, J, Shane RichardsShane Richards, Chetina, N, Liang, Y, Helliwell, N, Cipinska, M, Weinkove, DFolates are cofactors for biosynthetic enzymes in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Animals cannot synthesize folate and must acquire it from their diet or microbiota. Previously, we showed that inhibiting E. coli folate synthesis increases C. elegans lifespan. Here, we show that restriction or supplementation of C. elegans folate does not influence lifespan. Thus, folate is required in E. coli to shorten worm lifespan. Bacterial proliferation in the intestine has been proposed as a mechanism for the life-shortening influence of E. coli. However, we found no correlation between C. elegans survival and bacterial growth in a screen of 1,000+ E. coli deletion mutants. Nine mutants increased worm lifespan robustly, suggesting specific gene regulation is required for the life-shortening activity of E. coli. Disrupting the biosynthetic folate cycle did not increase lifespan. Thus, folate acts through a growth-independent route in E. coli to accelerate animal aging.
History
Publication title
Cell ReportsVolume
14Issue
7Pagination
1611-1620ISSN
2211-1247Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Elsevier Sci LtdPlace of publication
United StatesRights statement
Copyright 2016 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Repository Status
- Open