Independent regulation of age associated fat accumulation and longevity
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: Beas, Anthony O.; Gordon, Patricia B.; Prentiss, Clara L.; Olsen, Carissa Perez; Kukurugya, Matthew A.; Bennett, Bryson D.; Parkhurst, Susan M.; Gottschling, Daniel E.
Abstract
Age-dependent changes in metabolism can manifest as cellular lipid accumulation, but how this accumulation is regulated or impacts longevity is poorly understood. We find that Saccharomyces cerevisiae accumulate lipid droplets (LDs) during aging. We also find that over-expressing BNA2, the first Biosynthesis of NAD(+) (kynurenine) pathway gene, reduces LD accumulation during aging and extends lifespan. Mechanistically, this LD accumulation during aging is not linked to NAD(+) levels, but is anti-correlated with metabolites of the shikimate and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (SA) pathways (upstream of BNA2), which produce tryptophan (the Bna2p substrate). We provide evidence that over-expressed BNA2 skews glycolytic flux from LDs towards the SA-BNA pathways, effectively reducing LDs. Importantly, we find that accumulation of LDs does not shorten lifespan, but does protect aged cells against stress. Our findings reveal how lipid accumulation impacts longevity, and how aging cell metabolism can be rewired to modulate lipid accumulation independently from longevity. Age-associated metabolic changes include lipid accumulation. Here, the authors show that with replicative aging yeast accumulate lipid droplets which protect cells from cold stress and can be modulated through Biosynthesis of NAD+ 2 (BNA2).
The Effect of Chronic Mild Stress and Venlafaxine on the Expression and Methylation Levels of Genes Involved in the Tryptophan Catabolites Pathway in the Blood and Brain Structures of Rats
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
Authors: Wigner, Paulina; Synowiec, Ewelina; Jozwiak, Pawel; Czarny, Piotr; Bijak, Michal; Bialek, Katarzyna; Szemraj, Janusz; Gruca, Piotr; Papp, Mariusz; Sliwinski, Tomasz
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that depression may be associated with impairment of the tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs) pathway. The present study investigated the effects of the chronic administration of venlafaxine on the expression and methylation status of Katl, Tph1/2, Ido1, Kmo and Kynu in the brain and blood of rats exposed to the CMS model of depression. The rats were subjected to the CMS procedure for 2 or 7 weeks and administered venlafaxine (10 mg/kg/day, IP) for 5 weeks. mRNA and protein expression and the methylation status of gene promoters in PBMCs and six brain structures were evaluated and analysed using the TaqMan Gene Expression Assay and Western blotting, and methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM), respectively. We found that the CMS procedure increased KatI expression in the midbrain and KatII expression in the midbrain and the amygdala, while venlafaxine administration decreased KatII expression in the hypothalamus and the cerebral cortex. The methylation status of the Tph1 and Kmo promoters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly increased in the stressed group after antidepressant therapy. The protein levels of Tph1 and Ido1 were decreased following venlafaxine administration. Our results confirmed that CMS and venlafaxine modulate the expression levels and methylation status of genes involved in the TRYCATs pathway.