A gain-of-function screen identifies wdb and Ikb1 as lifespan-extending genes in Drosophila

The insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathways are known to regulate lifespan in diverse organisms. However, only a limited number of genes involved in these pathways have been examined regarding their effects on lifespan. Through a gain-of-function screen in Drosophila, we found that overexpression of the wdb gene encoding a regulatory subunit of PP2A, and overexpression of the Ikb1 gene encoding a serine/threonine kinase, reduced organ size and extended lifespan. Overexpression of wdb also reduced the level of phosphorylated AKT, while overexpression of Ikb1 increased the level of phosphorylated AMPK and decreased the level of phosphorylated S6K. Taken together, our results suggest that wdb- and Ikb1-dependent lifespan extension is mediated by downregulation of S6K, a downstream component of the insulin/IGF and TOR signaling pathways. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.