A Neuromedin U Receptor Acts with the Sensory System to Modulate Food Type-Dependent Effects on C. elegans Lifespan: e1000376

The type of food source has previously been shown to be as important as the level of food intake in influencing lifespan. Here we report that different Escherichia coli food sources alter Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan. These effects are modulated by different subsets of sensory neurons, which act...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS biology 2010-05, Vol.8 (5)
Main Authors: Maier, Wolfgang, Adilov, Bakhtiyor, Regenass, Martin, Alcedo, Joy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Genetics
Nematodes
Neurons
Worms
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The type of food source has previously been shown to be as important as the level of food intake in influencing lifespan. Here we report that different Escherichia coli food sources alter Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan. These effects are modulated by different subsets of sensory neurons, which act with nmur-1, a homolog of mammalian neuromedin U receptors. Wild-type nmur-1, which is expressed in the somatic gonad, sensory neurons, and interneurons, shortens lifespan only on specific E. coli food sources--an effect that is dependent on the type of E. coli lipopolysaccharide structure. Moreover, the food type-dependent effect of nmur-1 on lifespan is different from that of food-level restriction. Together our data suggest that nmur-1 processes information from specific food cues to influence lifespan and other aspects of physiology.
ISSN:1544-9173
1545-7885
DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000376