How the nematode C. elegans has been key in aging research crucial discoveries
A short-lived nematode, with which we share two-thirds of homologous genes, has been the key of multiple discoveries in aging and longevity studies. Meet the Caenorhabditis elegans, the worm that has been conquering the field of aging research during the last decades.
C. elegans - The golden star of aging research discoveries
The biological model Caenorhabditis elegans has been fundamental in aging and longevity research allowing groundbreaking findings about human lifespan. The Insulin/Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) signaling pathway, the very first life-extension pathway ever defined, was discovered in C. elegans. It has been later confirmed as a key regulator of lifespan and aging processes across the animal kingdom, including mammals. One of the major breakthroughs has been the discovery of the daf-2 gene, which encodes the homolog of the mammalian insulin receptor (INSR). Almost thirty years after said discovery, C. elegans continues to be one of the most popular biological models for the study of pathways regulating aging and longevity.
But C. elegans worms didn't stop there. They also contributed to Alzheimer’s disease research, being crucial in the identification of presenilin, a protein involved in the onset of said neurodegenerative disease. Other discoveries made in the longevity research field using this biological model are the identification of essential proteins for early embryonic development, such as RNA-binding proteins, also decisive during germline formation.
Advantages of C. elegans in Aging Research
The preference for C. elegans as a biological model in aging research is not a coincidence. Its favorable biological characteristics together with new technologies facilitating and speeding-up the research process constitute the key advantages of C. elegans for lifespan and longevity studies.
C. elegans have a short lifespan of about 3 weeks (vs 3 years in mice). Besides a high genetic homology with mammals, C. elegans display multiple quantifiable age-associated characteristics. Additionally, they are cheap to maintain in the laboratory settings due to their small size, simplicity of maintenance, and high fertility rate. Moreover, their transparent body allows easy and fast anatomical observations.
