Lanny Lo
Pronouns: she/her/hers
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, Morgan Wessels, Rebecca Cox, Ajay Bhat, Scott Leiser
Presenter: 51
Abstract
Aging is associated with many of the most common diseases. In order to understand the aging process, we utilize Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to study longevity and its relationship with diet. Dietary restriction (DR) is known to increase the lifespan in various model systems. In C. elegans DR-mediated lifespan extension depends on an enzyme called flavin containing monooxygenase-2 (FMO-2). Contrary to DR, the consumption of glucose has a negative effect on the lifespan of C. elegans. However, the mechanism through which this process occurs has yet to be identified. In search of this biological pathway, we have discovered that overexpression of FMO-2 is able to extend lifespan and counter the negative impacts of glucose. However, lifespan is not always correlated with healthspan. Therefore, in this study, we aim to look at the effect on healthspan of wild type and FMO-2 overexpressed worms when placed in a regular and high glucose diet. We measured the lateral body movements of the nematodes’ across their lifetime. The relationship between stress resistance and diet is also tested in C. elegans. Assessing this relationship is important because this can give us further information on how a stress resistant microbe can affect the lifespan of C.elegans. Overall, the major goal of both projects is to understand the role of a stress resistant diet and a high glucose diet on the healthspan and lifespan of C.elegans. The implication of this work will be to understand the effect of nutritional stress and the microbiome on the aging process.
Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences, Natural/Life Sciences
