Genetic Dissection of Locomotor Senescence in Drosophila

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的长期目标是利用果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）作为模型，了解影响功能性衰老的遗传途径。尽管已经确定了许多与寿命决定有关的基因，但我们对调节与年龄相关的功能衰退的基因的了解有限。因此，控制健康跨度的过程在很大程度上仍未被描述。在拟议的资助期内，我的实验室将在最近发现的一系列果蝇突变体中研究功能性衰老改变的分子机制。我们还将开始系统地探索寿命控制和健康跨度控制之间的机制联系。这些研究将帮助我们了解功能性衰老和潜在寿命决定的分子过程。这些研究将有助于确定我们是如何变老的。它们应该会带来有助于我们减少衰老对人的负面影响的信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this project is to understand the genetic pathways that influence functional senescence using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model. Although a number of genes involved in life span determination have been identified, our understanding of genes that regulate age-related functional declines is limited. Thus, the processes that govern health span remain largely uncharacterized. During the proposed funding period, my laboratory will pursue the molecular mechanisms underlying altered functional senescence in a series of recently identified Drosophila mutants. We will also begin a systematic exploration of mechanistic connections between control of life span and control of health span. These studies will help us to understand the molecular processes that underlie functional senescence and potentially life span determination. These studies will help determine how we age. They should lead to information that will help us reduce the negative effects of aging in people.