38th Annual Student Research Conference
Testing Mechanisms of Lifespan Extension in Drosophila
Alicia M. Jorgensen
Dr. Brett A Berke, Faculty Mentor
Every organism has a mean lifespan that is shortened by disease and aging. The fruit fly Drosophila could help address the cellular/molecular mechanisms of lifespan extension due to their genetic similarity, fully sequenced genome, genetic toolkit, and short lifespan. Our baseline, control data replicated published mean lifespans and known sex differences, and our data was collected using the optimal food. We are now studying a novel mechanism for lifespan extension: cell-death blocking mutations affecting mitochondria. The Cyclophilin 1 (Cyp1) protein is the fly version of CypD in humans, which opens a pore in mitochondria, leading to cell death. With several mutations affecting the Cyp1 gene, we are examining how fly lifespan compares to control data from flies reared using the same experimental conditions. These studies may establish a new, druggable, mechanism for extending lifespan that can be tested in other model organisms.
Keywords: Drosophila, lifespan, lifespan extension, cell death, Cyclophilin 1
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 107-5
Location: MG 2001
Time: 9:45