PUBLICATION

Annual fish as a genetic model for aging

Authors
Herrera, M., and Jagadeeswaran, P.
ID
ZDB-PUB-040309-1
Date
2004
Source
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences   59(2): B101-107 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Jagadeeswaran, Pudur
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Aging/genetics*
  • Aging/physiology
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Complementary/analysis
  • Female
  • Longevity/genetics*
  • Male
  • Models, Animal
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Survival Rate
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
14999022 Full text @ J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci.
Abstract
Advancement in the genetics of aging and identification of longevity genes has been largely due to the model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. However, knowledge gained from these invertebrates will not be able to identify vertebrate-specific longevity genes. The mouse has a relatively long life span of about 3 years, which limits its utility for screening of longevity genes. Fish have been used in aging studies. However, systematic comparison of survivorship curves for fish is lacking. In this study, we compared the survivorship curves of zebrafish and 2 different annual fish, namely, Cynolebias nigripinnis and Nothobranchius rachovii. These studies established that Nothobranchius rachovii has the shortest life span (8.5 months, at which time 10% of population remains). We also established that it is possible to breed Nothobranchius rachovii under laboratory conditions, and showed that their embryos can be stored for several months and hatched at any time by adding water. In addition, we have isolated 31 cDNA markers out of 71 attempted amplifications based on corresponding homologous genomic sequences in zebrafish and Fugu available from public databases, suggesting that approximately 40% of the genes from Nothobranchius rachovii could be easily isolated. Thus, the ability to be bred under laboratory conditions and the availability of cDNA markers for mapping, along with the major advantage of a relatively short life span, make Nothobranchius rachovii an attractive vertebrate genetic model for aging over other available vertebrate models.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping