Widespread Protein Aggregation as an Inherent Part of Aging in C. elegans

Aberrant protein aggregation is a hallmark of many age-related diseases, yet little is known about whether proteins aggregate with age in a non-disease setting. Using a systematic proteomics approach, we identified several hundred proteins that become more insoluble with age in the multicellular organism Caenorhabditis elegans. These proteins are predicted to be significantly enriched in beta-sheets, which promote disease protein aggregation. Strikingly, these insoluble proteins are highly over-represented in aggregates found in human neurodegeneration. We examined several of these proteins in vivo and confirmed their propensity to aggregate with age. Different proteins aggregated in different tissues and…

• LL
  Larry L. Hillblom Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: P41RR001614
• UO
  University of California, San Francisco
• NC
  National Center for Research Resources

  Award: NIH NCRR P41RR001614