Morgan Wessels
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Scott Leiser
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Molecular and integrative Physiology / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Lanny Lo, Ajay Bhat, Rebecca Cox, Scott Leiser, Morgan Wessels
Presenter: 52
Abstract
Overexpression of flavin-containing monooxygenase-2 (FMO-2) has been linked to increased longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dietary restriction is one way to induce expression of FMO-2 and increase lifespan.¹ Here we are exploring how dietary changes such as high sugar and stress resistance affects longevity in C. elegans. Lifespan assays were conducted for wildtype C. elegans using both Escherichia coli (OP50) and oxidative stress resistant bacterial strains. C. elegans grown on oxidative stress resistant bacterial diets showed increased lifespan indicating the bacteria’s own stress resistance may increase the lifespan of C. elegans. Changes to diet also have an effect on healthspan, or quality of life. To measure healthspan in high glucose conditions, we measured the frequency of lateral body movements of C.elegans, also known as thrashing assay, across different days of life as an indicator of healthspan. Both wildtype and FMO-2 overexpression (FMO-2 OE) strains in 2% glucose containing NGM plates show an initial decrease in thrashing compared to control NGM plates which began to level out around day eight. FMO-2 OE strains show some recovery of health for high glucose conditions but additional replicates are needed for further verification. Exploring various parts of diet, such as bacterial stress resistance, will help increase our understanding of longevity pathways and the mechanisms of aging. Increasing lifespan can allow us to combat chronic diseases associated with age, promoting health for organisms beyond C. elegans. ¹ Leiser, Scott F.; Miller, Hillary; Rossner, Ryan; Fletcher, Marissa; Leonard, Alison; Primitivo, Melissa; Rintala, Nicholas; Ramos, Fresnida J.; Miller, Dana L.; Kaeberlein, Matt. Cell nonautonomous activation of flavin-containing monooxygenase promotes longevity and health span. Science. 2015, 350, 1375-1378
Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences, Natural/Life Sciences
