[
1980]
During the postembryonic portion of their life cycle, free-living nematodes express a limited repertoire of developmental activities; these include limited cell growth, cell division, programmed cell death, differential gene expression, morphogenesis, and the establishment of positional information. These activities are manifested by the growth of the organism, molting, the development of the reproductive system, and the senescence of the organism. Analyses of postembryonic development in free-living nematodes has used three types of experimental approach to disrupt these processes. Genetic dissection of postembyronic development has been mediated in Caenorhabditis elegans by the establishment of temperature-sensitive, postembryonic-development-arrest mutants, temperature-sensitive gonad-development mutants, and a post-embryonic cell division-deficient mutant. Laser microbeam ablation experiments have demonstrated regions controlling postembryonic growth and molting and the site of the receptors for mating attraction in Panagrellus redivivus, and have been used as a probe for specific cellular function in C. elegans. However, the most widely used method for specifically disrupting normal postembryonic development has been the use of chemical agents that interfere with normal biosynthetic
[
Exp Gerontol,
2017]
Methionine restriction (MR) extends lifespan across different species. The main responses of rodent models to MR are well-documented in adipose tissue (AT) and liver, which have reduced mass and improved insulin sensitivity, respectively. Recently, molecular mechanisms that improve healthspan have been identified in both organs during MR. In fat, MR induced a futile lipid cycle concomitant with beige AT accumulation, producing elevated energy expenditure. In liver, MR upregulated fibroblast growth factor 21 and improved glucose metabolism in aged mice and in response to a high-fat diet. Furthermore, MR also reduces mitochondrial oxidative stress in various organs such as liver, heart, kidneys, and brain. Other effects of MR have also been reported in such areas as cardiac function in response to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), identification of molecular mechanisms in bone development, and enhanced epithelial tight junction. In addition, rodent models of cancer responded positively to MR, as has been reported in colon, prostate, and breast cancer studies. The beneficial effects of MR have also been documented in a number of invertebrate model organisms, including yeast, nematodes, and fruit flies. MR not only promotes extended longevity in these organisms, but in the case of yeast has also been shown to improve stress tolerance. In addition, expression analyses of yeast and Drosophila undergoing MR have identified multiple candidate mediators of the beneficial effects of MR in these models. In this review, we emphasize other in vivo effects of MR such as in cardiovascular function, bone development, epithelial tight junction, and cancer. We also discuss the effects of MR in invertebrates.