Muscling Toward a Longer Life: Genetic Aging Pathway Identified in Flies

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a genetic pathway that regulates aging in Drosophila melanogaster.  In this article, Vrailas-Mortimer and others reported on the surprising effects a pair of genes called p38 MAP kinase had on the aging process and sensitivity to oxidative stress in fruit flies; the scientists were originally expecting the pair of genes to be linked to learning and memory in D. melanogaster.  In their findings, the researchers discovered that if both genes were defective, the fruit fly could be expected to die early: they also suffered from motor impairment, an increased sensitivity to heat, and exposure to oxidative stress.  In addition to this, Vrailas-Mortimer and her team noted the drastic effect an overproduction of p38 MAP kinase had on fruit fly lifespan: those with an increase in p38 MAP kinase lived approximately fifty percent longer than regular flies.  The team was also able to identify two other genes that improved lifespan, MnSOD and MEF2.  In contrast to the genetic pathway that regulates aging in other organisms such as C. elegans and mice, p38, MnSOD, and MEF2 were found to have a pathway that is specific to muscles; p38, MnSOD, and MEF2 are found in mitochondria.  Vrailas-Mortimer and her team plan on examining the effects of dietary antioxidants and caloric restrictions on fruit flies deficient in p38.  I think the research Vrailas-Mortimer and her team are conducting is very important because it can reveal critical information needed to understand and treat muscle degeneration in humans.