In C. elegans, loss-of-function mutations of the DAF-1/FOXO upstream kinases such as DAF-2 and aging alteration-1 (age-1) promoted DAF-16/FOXO protein translocation into the nucleus to activate or repress its target genes (Kenyon, 2005; Calnan and Brunet, 2008).
Recently, we have extended our studies to mammals and found that aging alteration by reducing IGF signaling protects mice from behavioral, pathological and biochemical phenotypes associated with AD-like disease (Cohen et al., 2009).
The epigenetic changes are one of the hallmarks of aging, including alterations in transcription factor binding, histone marks, DNA methylation, and nucleosome positioning [18].
Since in all vertebrates transcription starts only after egg cleavage, aging induced alterations may involve changes in maternal mRNAs that have been deposited during oocyte maturation.
Gene expression profiling suggests that both CR and resveratrol may retard some aspects of aging through alterations in chromatin structure and transcription.
Changes in bowhead genes related to cell cycle, DNA repair, cancer, and aging suggest alterations that may be biologically relevant.
It is unknown to what degree aging and alterations of diet components correlate with the biological functions herein examined.
CR has been shown to oppose the molecular and biological markers of aging including alterations in gene expression [ 24].
