FUdR causes a twofold increase in the lifespan of the mitochondrial mutant gas-1

Abstract

The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans has been used to identify hundreds of genes that influence longevity and thereby demonstrate the strong influence of genetics on lifespan determination. In order to simplify lifespan studies in worms, many researchers have employed 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR) to inhibit the development of progeny. While FUdR has little impact on the lifespan of wild-type worms, we demonstrate that FUdR causes a dramatic, dose-dependent, twofold increase in the lifespan of the mitochondrial mutant gas-1. Thus, the concentration of FUdR employed in a lifespan study can determine whether a particular strain is long-lived or short-lived compared to wild-type.

Fig. 1

FUdR has a dose dependent effect on lifespan. The lifespan of wild-type and gas-1 worms was assessed on NGM plates containing four different concentrations of FUdR: 0 μM, 25 μM, 50 μM and 100 μM. Typically, lifespan experiments employing FUdR use 50–100 μM FUdR. (A,B) There was no significant effect of FUdR on the lifespan of wild-type worms across the entire range of FUdR concentrations. (A,C) In contrast, gas-1 worms exhibit a dose dependent increase in lifespan when grown in the presence of FUdR. At 0 μM and 25 μM, gas-1 worms have decreased lifespan compared to wild-type, while at 50 μM and 100 μM, gas-1 worms exhibit increased lifespan. The lifespan of gas-1 worms at 100 μM FUdR is double their lifespan at 0 μM FUdR. Error bars indicate SEM. * p<0.05, *** p<0.001.