3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid Regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans Aging and Immune Function

Abstract

3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) is a metabolite in the kynurenine pathway, a canonical pathway in tryptophan catabolism. This metabolite extends lifespan in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, though the precise mechanism through which this occurs is still being researched. In C. elegans 3HAA is synthesized by the protein KYNU-1 and degraded by the protein HAAO-1. Here I characterize the localization of KYNU-1, 3HAA, and HAAO-1 in C. elegans and investigate the relationship between 3HAA and healthspan. I demonstrate that KYNU-1 localizes primarily to the hypoderm and HAAO-1 localizes primarily to the neurons, indicating that 3HAA undergoes tissue-dependent regulation. I also show that 3HAA accumulation in the C. elegans gut improves gut integrity and decreases instances of bacterial infection. These findings contribute to the characterization of 3HAA’s role in healthspan and aging in C. elegans.