SCHS, mitochondria, healthy aging and longevity

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Obesity and diabetes are epidemic in the U.S. The consequences and comorbidities of obesity and diabetes have a massive negative impact on the aged, and thus strategies to combat obesity and diabetes could have a major impact on a major problem for the aging U.S. population. Twenty years of basic genetic research into aging and longevity across multiple species has also implicated insulin control, via the insulin/igf-1 pathway, and reduced adiposity as critical features of healthy aging. Thus, public health studies and basic aging studies converge and suggest that mechanisms to combat obesity and diabetes could have a major impact on the health of seniors. In the previous award, the program project assembled an experienced team to understand and integrate the consequences of Shc-deficiency at the molecular, organellar, tissue and whole-organismal levels. The research conducted demonstrated that Shc knockout (KO) mice resist obesity and diabetes, through increased insulin/igf-1 signaling and a 'low-insulin lifestyle,' are stress resistant, and have majr modifications of metabolism, extended median lifespan on caloric restriction, and increased stem cell function. In the current proposal, the program project will identify the Shc-based mechanism of: 1) decreased adiposity and increased survival on high-fat diet in mutant mice, 2) extended median lifespan on caloric restriction, and 3) improved stem cell function. In addition, the program will 4) identify drugs and diets that simulate Shc-deficiency, to be used as leads to promote healthy human aging. Thus, the ultimate product of the work will be not only a detailed understanding of the anti-obesity mechanism, anti-diabetic and anti-stress functions of Shcs, but also lead compounds and nutritional interventions that support healthy aging.