Regulation of reproduction and longevity by nutrient-sensing pathways.

Publication Year
2018

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Nutrients are necessary for life, as they are a crucial requirement for biological processes including reproduction, somatic growth, and tissue maintenance. Therefore, signaling systems involved in detecting and interpreting nutrient or energy levels-most notably, the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-play important roles in regulating physiological decisions to reproduce, grow, and age. In this review, we discuss the connections between reproductive senescence and somatic aging and give an overview of the involvement of nutrient-sensing pathways in controlling both reproductive function and lifespan. Although the molecular mechanisms that affect these processes can be influenced by distinct tissue-, temporal-, and pathway-specific signaling events, the progression of reproductive aging and somatic aging is systemically coordinated by integrated nutrient-sensing signaling pathways regulating somatic tissue maintenance in conjunction with reproductive capacity.

Journal
J Cell Biol
Volume
217
Issue
1
Pages
93-106
Date Published
2018 Jan 02
ISSN Number
1540-8140
Alternate Journal
J Cell Biol
PMCID
PMC5748989
PMID
29074705