Research Highlights | Nature Genetics

Access through your institution Buy or subscribe HETEROCHRONIC CONTROL OF AGING IN WORMS In _Caenorhabditis elegans_, the microRNA (miRNA) _lin-4_ and its regulatory target _lin-14_ are

heterochronic genes that regulate the timing of larval transitions during development. Michelle Boehm and Frank Slack (_Science_ 310, 1954–1957; 2005) now show that the same two genes

function in adult worms to regulate life span and aging. The authors found that worms with loss of _lin-4_ or gain of _lin-14_ function had shortened life spans, whereas worms overexpressing

_lin-4_ or lacking _lin-14_ function had extended life spans. The mutants also showed reciprocal changes in sensitivity to heat shock and accumulation of intestinal autofluorescence, two

well-studied markers of aging in worms. Notably, interfering with adult _lin-14_ function recapitulated the extended life span phenotype and partially rescued the shortened life span of

_lin-4_ mutants. The authors further showed that _lin-4_ and _lin-14_ interacted genetically with components of the _daf-2/daf-16_ insulin-like signaling pathway, which has a conserved role

in regulating life span across multiple species. The results suggest that heterochronic genes such as _lin-4_ and _lin-14_ may influence organismal aging in a manner analogous to their roles

in regulating the timing of key transitions during larval development. _KV_ This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your

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https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0206-147 Download citation * Issue Date: February 2006 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0206-147 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be

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