Cellular aging is the dynamic process of accumulating genetic and molecular changes in cells. Age-associated damage to cellular structures results in the deterioration of physiological functions, leading to cell death. A variey of diseases such as cancer, type-2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease are linked to cellular aging;yet, our understanding into the mechanisms of cellular aging and how these mechanisms are coupled to the initiation of various disease states is very limited. For example, we know very little about how chromosome instabilities occur in old cells. A basic understanding on the set of genes and gene networks responsible from directly regulating lifespan and the mechanisms used in this regulation is also missing. This lack of understanding is contributed by the fact that cellular aging is a complex phenotype to measure and comprehensive studies on aging require the application of novel experimental approaches and technological platforms. Using the replicative aging of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an experimental model, I propose to apply quantitative single-cell and single-molecule tracking approaches with the goal of: (1) uncovering the effect of bistable galactose metabolism on single-cell aging;(2) investigating how chromosomes become unstable with aging;(3) exploring the links between cellular aging and protein misfolding in single cells. To facilitate real-time measurements of replicative lifespan, we will utilize a microfluidics platform that automates the separation of daughter cells away from their mothers. Aging mother cells will be time-dynamically imaged until they no longer produce daughter cells. Results from these projects will broaden our limited understanding on how single-cells age by elucidating which genetic and phenotypic changes accompany or drive the aging process. For several decades, the labor-intensive nature of the conventional micromanipulator-based aging platforms has limited the research progress in the aging field. The inability of the colony-based aging assays to quantify aging phenotypes at the single-cell level was another important deficiency, as there are usually cell-to-cell variations in aging among the cells forming a colony. Using microfluidics platforms to automate single-cell lifespan measurements will overcome these deficiencies and limitations, and has the potential to transform the field of aging.

Public Health Relevance

Using quantitative systems biology approaches and microfluidics platforms, I propose to investigate how single yeast cells replicatively age in real-time. Since a number of genetic and cell biological processes are conserved between yeast and higher eukaryotic cells, our results will contribute significant insights into understanding ho complex eukaryotic cells age, including human cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards (DP2)
Project #
1DP2AG050461-01
Application #
8757405
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Velazquez, Jose M
Project Start
2014-09-30
Project End
2019-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-30
Budget End
2019-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06510
Xue, Yuan; Acar, Murat (2018) Live-Cell Imaging of Chromatin Condensation Dynamics by CRISPR. iScience 4:216-235
Elison, Gregory L; Acar, Murat (2018) Scarless genome editing: progress towards understanding genotype-phenotype relationships. Curr Genet :
Song, Ruijie; Sarnoski, Ethan A; Acar, Murat (2018) The Systems Biology of Single-Cell Aging. iScience 7:154-169
Chatterjee, Meenakshi; Acar, Murat (2018) Heritable stress response dynamics revealed by single-cell genealogy. Sci Adv 4:e1701775
Liu, Ping; Acar, Murat (2018) The generational scalability of single-cell replicative aging. Sci Adv 4:eaao4666
Xue, Yuan; Acar, Murat (2018) Mechanisms for the epigenetic inheritance of stress response in single cells. Curr Genet 64:1221-1228
Luo, Xinyue; Song, Ruijie; Acar, Murat (2018) Multi-component gene network design as a survival strategy in diverse environments. BMC Syst Biol 12:85
Elison, Gregory L; Xue, Yuan; Song, Ruijie et al. (2018) Insights into Bidirectional Gene Expression Control Using the Canonical GAL1/GAL10 Promoter. Cell Rep 25:737-748.e4
Sarnoski, Ethan A; Song, Ruijie; Ertekin, Ege et al. (2018) Fundamental Characteristics of Single-Cell Aging in Diploid Yeast. iScience 7:96-109
Sarnoski, Ethan A; Liu, Ping; Acar, Murat (2017) A High-Throughput Screen for Yeast Replicative Lifespan Identifies Lifespan-Extending Compounds. Cell Rep 21:2639-2646

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