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, David Gems

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number15458
JournalNature communications
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - May 23 2017

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