Mechanisms of the Mlx and Max Transcriptional Network in Aging

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We have identified a functional role for Myc-related transcription factors of C. elegans in the process of aging. This family consists of two different heterodimers, the MDL and MML complexes, respectively, which have opposing roles in transcription and longevity control. The MML complex can extend lifespan and activate target gene transcription, whereas the MDL complex shortens lifespan and represses gene activity. These complexes interact genetically and molecularly with both insulin/IGF signaling and with dietary restriction. Thus, the Myc family of transcription factors represents a newly discovered convergence point for these central aging related pathways. We will investigate the molecular mechanisms by which the MML and MDL complexes influence longevity. Orthologous mammalian transcription factors have been linked to nutrient sensing, metabolic control, and disease. We will use metabolomics to discover the specific metabolic pathways that are altered by the MDL/MML complexes and link those metabolic changes to longevity using genetic and functional genomic approaches. The MML and MDL transcriptional complexes represent an evolutionarily conserved entity for coupling nutrient sensing, metabolism, and aging. Characterizing the newly discovered role of Myc transcription factors in the dynamic interplay between distinct longevity signals, in the experiments proposed here, may facilitate the development of rationale strategies for the treatment of age-associated disease and metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance) to promote human health.