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Two forms of death in ageing Caenorhabditis elegans

Zhao, Yuan, Gilliat, Ann F., Ziehm, Matthias, Turmaine, Mark, Wang, Hongyuan, Ezcurra, Marina, Yang, Chenhao, Phillips, George, McBay, David, Zhang, William B., and others. (2017) Two forms of death in ageing Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature Communications, 8 (1). Article Number 15458. ISSN 2041-1723. (doi:10.1038/ncomms15458) (KAR id:74216)

Abstract

Ageing generates senescent pathologies, some of which cause death. Interventions that delay or prevent lethal pathologies will extend lifespan. Here we identify life-limiting pathologies in Caenorhabditis elegans with a necropsy analysis of worms that have died of old age. Our results imply the presence of multiple causes of death. Specifically, we identify two classes of corpse: early deaths with a swollen pharynx (which we call ‘P deaths’), and later deaths with an atrophied pharynx (termed ‘p deaths’). The effects of interventions on lifespan can be broken down into changes in the frequency and/or timing of either form of death. For example, glp-1 mutation only delays p death, while eat-2 mutation reduces P death. Combining pathology and mortality analysis allows mortality profiles to be deconvolved, providing biological meaning to complex survival and mortality profiles.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1038/ncomms15458
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Marina Ezcurra
Date Deposited: 03 Jun 2019 07:55 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 19:13 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/74216 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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