Intra- and trans-generational memory in ageing

Dr Nazif Alic (primary)
n.alic@ucl.ac.uk
UCL
Prof. Jürg Bähler (secondary)
Genetics, Evolution and Environment
UCL

Abstract

Three RNA polymerases transcribe the eukaryotic nuclear genome: Pol I, II and III. Historical bias has favoured the study of Pol II since it transcribes coding, messenger RNAs. The host lab has initiated the investigation of Pol III function in the adult fruit fly. Previous PhD student has shown that inhibition of Pol III, a key enzyme in generating protein translation machinery, extends lifespan downstream of an important nutrient-signalling pathway. This project will examine the long-term memory of inhibiting the production of protein synthesis machinery. It is focused on the biology of ageing due to the urgent need to understand ageing for treatment of age-related diseases that cause the biggest burden in contemporary societies.


References

Filer, D., Thompson, M.A., Takhaveev, V., Dobson, A.J., Green, J.W.M., Heinemann, M., Tullet, J.M.A. and Alic, N. (2017) Longevity by RNA polymerase III inhibition downstream of TORC1. Nature 552:263-267.

Dobson, A.J., Ezcurra, M, Flanagan, C.E., Summerfield, A.C., Piper, M.D.W., Gems, D and Alic, N. (2017) Nutritional programming of lifespan by FOXO inhibition on sugar-rich diets. Cell Rep. 18: 299-306.

Holland ML, Lowe R, Caton PW, Gemma C, Carbajosa G, Danson AF, Carpenter AA, Loche E, Ozanne SE, Rakyan VK. (2016) Early-life nutrition modulates the epigenetic state of specific rDNA genetic variants in mice. Science 353:495-8.


BBSRC Area
Genes, development and STEM* approaches to biology
Area of Biology
AgeingGenetics
Techniques & Approaches
BioinformaticsGeneticsMathematics / StatisticsMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular Biology