Editor's Summary

5 February 2009

Fasting for longevity

Dietary restriction can extend lifespan in various species. In mammals, intermittent fasting can also extend lifespan and reduce the incidence of age-related disorders, even when there is little or no decrease in calorie intake. In a study of the molecular mechanisms associated with the beneficial effect of intermittent fasting, Honjoh et al. established a fasting regime that extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, and show that the low molecular weight GTPase RHEB-1 has a dual role in lifespan regulation. It is required for the intermittent fasting-induced longevity, whereas RHEB-1 inhibition mimics the effects of caloric restriction. RHEB-1 exerts its effects in intermittent fasting in part via the insulin/insulin growth factor-like signalling effector DAF-16. These findings may contribute to the development of dietary restriction mimetics intended to improve health without toxic side effects.

Letter: Signalling through RHEB-1 mediates intermittent fasting-induced longevity in C. elegans

Sakiko Honjoh, Takuya Yamamoto, Masaharu Uno & Eisuke Nishida

doi:10.1038/nature07583

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