The long-term goal of this project is to understand the genetic pathways that influence functional senescence using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model. Although a number of genes involved in life span determination have been identified, our understanding of genes that regulate age-related functional declines is limited. Thus, the processes that govern health span remain largely uncharacterized. During the proposed funding period, my laboratory will pursue the molecular mechanisms underlying altered functional senescence in a series of recently identified Drosophila mutants. We will also begin a systematic exploration of mechanistic connections between control of life span and control of health span. These studies will help us to understand the molecular processes that underlie functional senescence and potentially life span determination. These studies will help determine how we age. They should lead to information that will help us reduce the negative effects of aging in people. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AG024259-01A2
Application #
7094485
Study Section
Cellular Mechanisms in Aging and Development Study Section (CMAD)
Program Officer
Mccormick, Anna M
Project Start
2006-06-15
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2006-06-15
Budget End
2007-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$183,270
Indirect Cost
Name
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
105300446
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23298
Jones, Melanie A; Grotewiel, Mike (2011) Drosophila as a model for age-related impairment in locomotor and other behaviors. Exp Gerontol 46:320-5
Martin, Ian; Jones, Melanie A; Rhodenizer, Devin et al. (2009) Sod2 knockdown in the musculature has whole-organism consequences in Drosophila. Free Radic Biol Med 47:803-13
Piazza, Nicole; Hayes, Michael; Martin, Ian et al. (2009) Multiple measures of functionality exhibit progressive decline in a parallel, stochastic fashion in Drosophila Sod2 null mutants. Biogerontology 10:637-48
Jones, Melanie A; Gargano, Julia Warner; Rhodenizer, Devin et al. (2009) A forward genetic screen in Drosophila implicates insulin signaling in age-related locomotor impairment. Exp Gerontol 44:532-40
Martin, Ian; Jones, Melanie A; Grotewiel, Mike (2009) Manipulation of Sod1 expression ubiquitously, but not in the nervous system or muscle, impacts age-related parameters in Drosophila. FEBS Lett 583:2308-14
Rhodenizer, Devin; Martin, Ian; Bhandari, Poonam et al. (2008) Genetic and environmental factors impact age-related impairment of negative geotaxis in Drosophila by altering age-dependent climbing speed. Exp Gerontol 43:739-48
Paul, Anirban; Belton, Amy; Nag, Sanjay et al. (2007) Reduced mitochondrial SOD displays mortality characteristics reminiscent of natural aging. Mech Ageing Dev 128:706-16