Cited by 165Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsAnimal Behavior and ReproductionNeurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Males Shorten the Life Span of C. elegans Hermaphrodites via Secreted Compounds

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Maures, Travis J., Booth, Lauren N., Benayoun, Bérénice A., Izrayelit, Yevgeniy, Schroeder, Frank C., Brunet, Anne·2014·Science

Abstract

Battle of the Sexes: In many species, males compete with one another to propagate their own DNA, often to the detriment of females (see the Perspective by Promislow and Kaeberlein ). Shi and Murphy (p. 536 , published online 19 December) discovered that mating in Caenorhabditis species causes mothers to shrink and die soon after they have ceased producing progeny. Males appear to hijack the longevity and stress resistance pathways normally employed by the mothers to slow reproduction and somatic aging in times of stress. Maures et al. (p. 541 , published online 29 November) explored why the presence of abundant mating-competent males causes a decrease in the life span of nematodes of the opposite sex and found that a secreted substance, possibly a pheromone, reproduced the effect of the males when transferred in the culture medium. Detection of pheromones from a female fruit fly is enough to cause changes in metabolism, reduce resistance to starvation, and shorten the life span of male flies. Gendron et al. (p. 544 , published online 29 November) report that the signals from the female appear to be recognized by sensory receptors on the legs of male flies.

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  • This male-induced lifespan shortening may involve chromatin changes via UTX-1.

    “this phenomenon may involve male-induced changes in chromatin via the H3K27me3 demethylase UTX-1 (Maures et al., 2014).”

    From The Aging Epigenome (2016) · cites this paper as Maures et al., 2014

  • In C. elegans, presence of males shortens hermaphrodite lifespan.

    “In C. elegans, the presence of males shortens hermaphrodite lifespan (Maures et al., 2014; Shi and Murphy, 2014)”

    From The Aging Epigenome (2016) · cites this paper as Maures et al., 2014

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [31]Kiontke KC A phylogeny and molecular barcodes for Caenorhabditis, with numerous new species from rotting fruits BMC Evol Biol 11 339 2011 22103856 PMC3277298

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Authors
Maures, T. J., Booth, L. N., Benayoun, B. A., Izrayelit, Y., Schroeder, F. C., & Brunet, A.
Affiliations
  • Stanford University (US)
  • Cornell University (US)
Corresponding author
Brunet, Anne
Venue
Science
Published
2014-01-31
Volume
343
Issue
6170
Pages
541-544
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2057579138
Cited by
165
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 13
FWCI
5.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (F32AG37254, DP1AG044848, F32AG037254, R01AG031198)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (K22HG000044, T32HG000044)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM008500, R01GM088290)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
Keywords
male-male competition, Caenorhabditis elegans, pheromones, somatic aging, stress tolerance, longevity, Drosophila, starvation resistance, reproductive aging
MeSH terms
Animals, Carrier Proteins, Biological Evolution, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Longevity, Male, Culture Media, Conditioned, Caenorhabditis elegans, Genes, Helminth, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, RNA Interference, Peptide Hormones

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