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The real Dorian Gray mouse
Author(s) -
Lithgow Gordon J.,
Andersen Julie K.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-1878(200005)22:5<410::aid-bies2>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - biology , mutant , caenorhabditis elegans , gene , rodent , genetics , laboratory mouse , signal transduction , model organism , mutation , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology
Genetic variants with greatly extended lifespan are proving invaluable in uncovering signal transduction pathways that influence the rates of normal ageing. These studies have so far been confined to invertebrate models such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, but there has been much speculation as to whether a similar approach could be applied to mammals. The recent publication of results on a mouse strain, mutant in a gene encoding the signaling molecule p66 shc , gives cause for optimism. The mutation renders the mouse resistant to the action of oxygen radical generators and appears to increase mean lifespan by 30%. This approach may provide a boost for the modeling of human age‐related diseases. BioEssays 22:410—413, 2000. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.