Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA.
PLoS One. 2013 Apr 26;8(4):e58212. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058212. Print 2013.
Genetic approaches (e.g. mutation, RNA interference) in model organisms, particularly the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, have yielded a wealth of information on cellular processes that can influence lifespan. Although longevity mutants discovered in the lab are instructive of cellular physiology, lab studies might miss important genes that influence health and longevity in the wild. C. elegans has relatively low natural genetic variation and high levels of linkage disequilibrium, and thus is not optimal for studying natural variation in longevity. In contrast, its close relative C. remanei possesses very high levels of molecular genetic variation and low levels of linkage disequilibrium. To determine whether C. remanei may be a good model system for the study of natural genetic variation in aging, we evaluated levels of quantitative genetic variation for longevity and resistance to oxidative, heat and UV stress. Heritability (and the coefficient of additive genetic variation) was high for oxidative and heat stress resistance, low (but significant) for longevity, and essentially zero for UV stress response. Our results suggest that C. remanei may be a powerful system for studying natural genetic variation for longevity and oxidative and heat stress response, as well as an informative model for the study of functional relationships between longevity and stress response.
遗传方法（例如突变，RNA 干扰）在模式生物，特别是线虫秀丽隐杆线虫中，已经产生了大量关于影响寿命的细胞过程的信息。虽然在实验室中发现的长寿突变体对于细胞生理学具有启示性，但实验室研究可能会错过影响野生生物健康和长寿的重要基因。秀丽隐杆线虫的自然遗传变异相对较低，连锁不平衡程度较高，因此不适合研究长寿的自然变异。相比之下，它的近亲 C. remanei 具有非常高的分子遗传变异和低水平的连锁不平衡。为了确定 C. remanei 是否可能成为研究衰老过程中自然遗传变异的良好模型系统，我们评估了对氧化、热和 UV 应激的寿命和抗性的定量遗传变异水平。氧化应激和热应激抗性的遗传力（和加性遗传变异系数）较高，寿命较低（但有意义），而对 UV 应激反应则几乎为零。我们的结果表明，C. remanei 可能是研究寿命和氧化应激及热应激反应的自然遗传变异的强大系统，也是研究长寿和应激反应之间功能关系的有价值模型。
