Exploration and mechanism elucidation of metabolites that contribute to healthy longevity using model organisms

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22285
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 38:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: MIZUNUMA Masaki 広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科(先), 教授 (10343295)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 酵母 / 代謝産物 / 細胞寿命 / 線虫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In Japan's ageing society, the extension of healthy life expectancy is one of the most important issues to be addressed. Elucidation of lifespan regulation mechanisms is expected to contribute not only to the elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms of aging-related diseases such as cancer, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, but also to the extension of healthy life span through prevention and delay of these diseases. Recent studies have revealed examples in which specific metabolites, caused by environmental factors such as nutritional status and intestinal microflora, function as signaling molecules for lifespan regulation. Approximately, 200 metabolites were comprehensively screened for metabolites that contribute to lifespan extension in budding yeast, and 14 metabolites that extended yeast cell lifespan were successfully identified.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで代謝産物は、生体反応の副産物としてみなされていた側面が大きかった。しかし、今回の解析から、代謝産物は生体恒常性維持に積極的に関わるシグナル分子として作用することが予想された。特に寿命決定における重要なシグナル分子として機能することも示唆された。内在性の代謝産物および代謝経路は生物間で保存性が高いことから、代謝を基点としたモデル生物での知見は、ヒトでも効果が期待できる。また、安全性の面でも心配が少ない。サプリメント、食品、創薬、有用物質を高生産する株の育種など様々な方向に波及効果があると思われる。