The reporter learned from Southwest University that Professor Dai Fangyin and his team from the National Key Laboratory for Efficient Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, together with foreign experts, have discovered a new gene OSER1 that regulates lifespan, and have revealed its mechanism of action in multiple species such as silkworms, nematodes, and fruit flies. As a target gene of the longevity gene FOXO (forkhead box protein O), the effect of OSER1 on lifespan is supported by research results on human subjects. It is reported that forkhead box protein O is one of the few human longevity genes that has been identified so far. It affects lifespan by regulating pathways related to aging, but currently, the targets mediating these effects are largely unknown. Research has shown that the secondary structure of forkhead box protein O is highly conserved among different animal models, providing a basis for screening target genes for lifespan regulation using silkworms and other species. The research team used a high-efficiency interference platform for nematodes to conduct interference experiments on 42 potential direct target genes of forkhead box protein O in silkworms. They found that 7 genes were significantly reduced in lifespan after downregulation, and 3 genes were significantly prolonged after downregulation. Among them, the reduction of OSER1 homologous gene expression in nematodes resulted in the greatest reduction in lifespan. We compared and analyzed nematodes, silkworms, fruit flies, zebrafish, Xenopus laevis, mice, rhesus monkeys, and humans, and found that the OSER1 orthologous gene is present in their genomes According to Song Jiangbo, the first author of the paper and associate professor at the National Key Laboratory of Efficient Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects at Southwest University, further research has shown that increasing OSER1 expression in silkworms, nematodes, and fruit flies significantly prolongs the lifespan of all three species. To elucidate the mechanism by which OSER1 regulates longevity, the research team conducted a series of molecular biology experiments in silkworms, nematodes, and fruit flies. The research results collectively indicate that OSER1 is a direct target gene of forkhead box protein O. OSER1 can respond to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide and extend lifespan by enhancing the body's defense against oxidative stress. Schematic diagram of the mechanism by which OSER1 participates in lifespan regulation. The research results on human subjects also support the view that OSER1 affects human lifespan Song Jiangbo introduced that the team's research found that compared with the young control group, 49 common single nucleotide variations were detected in the OSER1 gene in long-lived elderly people over 90 years old, of which 7 were significantly associated with longevity. The research findings were recently published online in the international academic journal Nature Communications. The paper review expert stated, "This study has discovered a new target gene for forkhead box protein O, and biological functional studies strongly demonstrate its inter species commonality, which will promote further research on the regulation of lifespan pathways by forkhead box protein O
Edit：Xiong Dafei Responsible editor：Li Xiang
Source：XinHuaNet
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