THE ROLE OF DAF-16 IN C. ELEGANS RADIATION RESISTANCE

Abstract

Medical research is usually focused on diseases and their unique characteristics that could be targeted for therapy. Age is the primary risk factor for most chronic diseases in the modern era. There is a more direct focus on the biology underlying the aging process and the cellular stress individuals are put through during this period. Oxidative stress, DNA damage, and protein misfolding are just a few of many common causes for activating cellular stress pathways. Eukaryotic cells have developed various molecular pathways for dealing with the deleterious effects of different stresses. As the aging process continues, dysregulation of these stress pathways increases the risk for many age-associated diseases. By slowing this process, we can work towards maintaining health even in old age. My work with Caenorhabditis elegans delves into the effects of radiation on aging and how manipulation of specific molecular genotypes affects the lifespan of these nematodes. The DAF-16/FOXO pathway regulates genes involved in aging, stress, and metabolism, enhancing antioxidant defenses and metabolic shifts under stress conditions like starvation. My focus on this pathway and its regulation of stress response and longevity demonstrates how its activation influence survival and stress resistance under exposure to radiation. My thesis will discuss the effects of radiation and induced stress on C. elegans. It will outline the results of my experiments and how age-related deterioration is affected by specific changes in genotype.