Researchers have homed in on the genetic control points that allow nematodes to live longer when they are on a low-calorie diet.

A team led by Jing-Dong Han of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai analysed gene-expression changes over time in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The worms were subjected either to caloric restriction or to intermittent fasting, both of which extend worm lifespan.

The team identified changes in the expression of various genes at different times, with metabolism genes responding early during the diet, and those linked to cell division and DNA repair changing later on. The researchers then used an algorithm to identify three sets of genes that regulate this altered expression. Changing the activity of the pathways controlled by these genes extended the lifespan of the worms, mimicking the effect of dietary restriction.

Cell Metab. 23, 529–540 (2016)