Lifespan Extension by Retrotransposons under Conditions of Mild Stress Requires Genes Involved in tRNA Modifications and Nucleotide Metabolism.

Retrotransposons are mobile DNA elements that are more active with increasing age and exacerbate aging phenotypes in multiple species. We previously reported an unexpected extension of chronological lifespan in the yeast, , due to the presence of Ty1 retrotransposons when cells were aged under conditions of mild stress. In this study, we tested a subset of genes identified by RNA-seq to be differentially expressed in strains with a high-copy number of Ty1 retrotransposons compared with a strain with no retrotransposons and additional candidate genes for their contribution to lifespan extension when cells were exposed to a moderate dose of hydroxyurea (HU).