The disposable soma theory of aging in reverse

Abstract

In a recent paper in Nature, Ermolaeva et al. uncover a systemic response to DNA damage in germ cells that protects somatic tissues, providing mechanistic insight into the bidirectional communication between germ line and soma.

Figure 1

Germ line in the nematode protects somatic tissue through innate immune response under genotoxic stress. The model represents an adult nematode in which somatic tissue is depicted in gray and the germ line is depicted in blue. 1. Genotoxic stress causes DNA damage in the germ cells. 2. Germ cells transmit stress signal to the peripheral somatic tissues. Upon receipt of the signal, the soma activates protective clearance mechanisms to remove damaged and misfolded proteins.