Results—Using a novel DR assay that we developed and validated in C. elegans, we find that AMPK is required for this DR method to extend lifespan and delay age-dependent decline. We find that AMPK exerts its effects in part via the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16. FOXO/DAF-16 is necessary for the beneficial effects of this DR method on lifespan. Expression of an active version of AMPK in worms...

Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and ceramide (Cer) are the predominant sphingolipids (SL) in soybeans. They have been recognized as functional components in plants and may have health benefits for humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in SL and phospholipid (PL) contents that occurred during seed development. Soybean seeds of three cultivars (IA1008, IA1010, and IA1014) were...

In Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), the promotion of longevity by the transcription factor DAF-16 requires reduced insulin/IGF receptor (IIR) signaling or the ablation of the germline, although the reason for the negative impact of germ cells is unknown. FOXO/DAF-16 activity inhibits germline proliferation in both daf-2 mutants and gld-1 tumors. In contrast to its function as a germline tum...

In Caenorhabditis elegans, mutants of the conserved insulin/IGF-1 signalling (IIS) pathway are long-lived and stress resistant due to the altered expression of DAF-16 target genes such as those involved in cellular defence and metabolism. The three Δ(9) desaturase genes, fat-5, fat-6 and fat-7, are included amongst these DAF-16 targets, and it is well established that Δ(9) desaturase enzymes pl...

4,5-Diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2 DA) has been widely used for the measurement of nitric oxide (NO) in living cells and tissues. We previously established a method that demonstrated platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced endothelial NO production in intact venules using DAF-2 DA. In previous applications, the loading dye was removed from the extracellular space before NO measurements. H...

Because of controversies in the literature on nitric oxide (NO) production by plants, NO detection by the frequently used diaminofluorescein (DAF-2 and DAF-2DA) and by chemiluminescence were compared using the following systems of increasing complexity: (i) dissolved NO gas; (ii) the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP); (iii) purified nitrate reductase (NR); and (iv) tobacco cell suspensions. L...

years ago it was discovered that loss of insulin/IGF-1-like signaling (IIS) – such as occurs in daf-2(mutants ts – dramatically extends longevity in the nematode C. elegans via the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 [1-3]. Under favorable conditions, DAF-16 remains cytosolic and transcriptionally inactive[2-4]; under stress, it is driven into the nucleus, leading to both up-regulation and down-re...

Total DNA of Streptococcus uberis from cows with mastitis was analyzed by DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) and compared with restriction endonuclease fingerprinting (REF). DAF grouped 22 strains into 15 distinct patterns, while REF grouped them into 12 patterns. These results suggest that DAF is a useful technique for subtyping strains of S. uberis.

Activation of the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 by reduced insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) is considered to be beneficial in C. elegans due to its ability to extend lifespan and to enhance stress resistance. In the germline, cell-autonomous DAF-16 activity prevents stem cell proliferation, thus acting tumor-suppressive. In contrast, hypodermal DAF-16 causes a tumorous germline phenotype characte...

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, formation of the long-lived dauer larva and adult aging are both controlled by insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling. Potentially, increased adult life span in daf-2 insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor mutants results from mis-expression in the adult of a dauer larva longevity program. By using oligonucleotide microarray analysis, we id...