Two forms of death in ageing Caenorhabditis elegans

Yuan Zhao, Ann F. Gilliat, Matthias Ziehm, Mark Turmaine, Hongyuan Wang, Marina Ezcurra, Chenhao Yang, George Phillips, David McBay, William B. Zhang, Linda Partridge, Zachary Pincus and David Gems ()
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Yuan Zhao: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Ann F. Gilliat: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Matthias Ziehm: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Mark Turmaine: University College London
Hongyuan Wang: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Marina Ezcurra: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Chenhao Yang: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
George Phillips: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
David McBay: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
William B. Zhang: Washington University in St Louis
Linda Partridge: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Zachary Pincus: Washington University in St Louis
David Gems: Institute of Healthy Ageing, Evolution and Environment, University College London

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15458

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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15458

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