Overview

Our laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms of aging and longevity. We are particularly interested in the aging of the nervous system.

An emerging concept is that organismal aging, long thought to be a byproduct of wear and tear, is actually a highly controlled process, regulated by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The search for genes that play a central role in controlling lifespan in several species has converged on components of the signaling pathway that connects insulin/insulin like growth factors to FOXO transcription factors and on the family of Sirtuin deacetylases.

The lab's main goals are:

1. To dissect the mechanism of action of known 'longevity genes' such as FOXO and Sirtuins in mammalian cells. In particular, we are interested in understanding how FOXO and Sirtuins control gene expression and chromatin status in response to environmental stimuli, including nutrient deprivation and DNA damage.

2. To explore the role of known longevity genes in the mammalian nervous system. We are specifically intrigued by the importance of FOXO and Sirtuins in the maintenance of adult neural stem cells and cognitive functions in mammals.

3. To discover new genes and processes that regulate aging using two short-lived model systems: Caenorhabditis elegans, and the extremely short-lived fish Nothobranchius furzeri.

The approaches used in the lab include molecular biology and whole-genome survey of gene expression and chromatin status, stem cell biology, behavior, mouse genetics, worm genetics, and genetic linkage analysis in fish.

 

Background

 

Specific projects