Deciphering mechanisms that regulate aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

Aging is a multifaceted and poorly understood process characterized by physiological changes that culminate in the decline of an organism's functions. The research field of Biology of Aging aims to provide insight into this process, thereby contributing to the development of therapies that alleviate age-related symptoms in humans. This thesis provides a concise overview of research in this field, primarily focusing on the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The thesis also encompasses the studies conducted during my PhD, uncovering novel regulators and mechanisms of aging in C. elegans. Additionally, it examines the role of primary cilia in neuron differentiation. We anticipate that these studies will deepen our understanding of aging and certain age-associated diseases, thus facilitating the development of anti-aging therapies.

List of scientific papers

I. Exploring the interplay between DAF-16/FOXO and BAF-1/BANF1 in the regulation of aging.

II. Mapping of transcriptionally relevant chromatin accessibility changes reveals LIN-39 as a driver of longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans with reduced insulin/IGF-like signaling.

III. Transcriptomics-Based Screening Identifies Pharmacological Inhibition of Hsp90 as a Means to Defer Aging. Cell Rep. 2019 Apr 9;27(2):467-480.e6.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.044

IV. Primary cilia promote the differentiation of human neurons through the WNT signaling pathway. BMC Biol. 2024 Feb 27;22(1):48.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-024-01845-w