Open AccessrDNA array length is a major determinant of replicative lifespan in budding yeast
Author(s) -
Manuel Hotz,
Nathaniel H. Thayer,
David G. Hendrickson,
Elizabeth L. Schinski,
Jun Xu,
Daniel E. Gottschling
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2119593119
Subject(s) - extrachromosomal dna , biology , ribosomal dna , genetics , ribosomal rna , gene , phylogenetics , genome
Significance Genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rDNA) are organized into a repetitive array in eukaryotic genomes. The copy number of these genes often varies and is responsive to genetics and environment. Here, we show that variation in copy number at the rDNA locus is capable of altering replicative lifespan in yeast. These results indicate that considering rDNA copy number, and conditions that could potentially change this dynamic chromosome locus, is critical for evaluating lifespan. We propose that this rDNA locus represents the kind of repeated element in eukaryotic genomes that escapes easy detection, yet has phenotypic consequences, in this case lifespan.