Axenic Culture of Alters Lysosomal/Proteasomal Balance and Increases Neuropeptide Expression.

Axenically cultured show many characteristic traits of worms subjected to dietary restriction, such as slowed development, reduced fertility, and increased stress resistance. Hence, the term axenic dietary restriction (ADR) is often applied. ADR dramatically extends the worm lifespan compared to other DR regimens such as bacterial dilution.

CBP-1 Acts in GABAergic Neurons to Double Life Span in Axenically Cultured Caenorhabditis elegans.

When cultured in axenic medium, Caenorhabditis elegans shows the largest life-span extension compared with other dietary restriction regimens. However, the underlying molecular mechanism still remains elusive. The gene cbp-1, encoding the worm ortholog of p300/CBP (CREB-binding protein), is one of the very few key genes known to be essential for life span doubling under axenic dietary restriction (ADR).

Life-Span Extension by Axenic Dietary Restriction Is Independent of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response and Mitohormesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

In Caenorhabditis elegans, a broad range of dietary restriction regimens extend life span to different degrees by separate or partially overlapping molecular pathways. One of these regimens, axenic dietary restriction, doubles the worm's life span but currently, almost nothing is known about the underlying molecular mechanism. Previous studies suggest that mitochondrial stress responses such as the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) or mitohormesis may play a vital role in axenic dietary restriction-induced longevity.

FOXO/DAF-16 Activation Slows Down Turnover of the Majority of Proteins in C. elegans.

Most aging hypotheses assume the accumulation of damage, resulting in gradual physiological decline and, ultimately, death. Avoiding protein damage accumulation by enhanced turnover should slow down the aging process and extend the lifespan. However, lowering translational efficiency extends rather than shortens the lifespan in C.

Mitochondrial efficiency is increased in axenically cultured Caenorhabditis elegans.

Culturing Caenorhabditis elegans in axenic medium leads to a twofold increase in lifespan and considering the similar phenotypical traits with dietary restricted animals, it is referred to as axenic dietary restriction (ADR). The free radical theory of aging has suggested a pivotal role for mitochondria in the aging process and previous findings established that culture in axenic medium increases metabolic rate. We asked whether axenic culture induces changes in mitochondrial functionality of C.