Aging of intestinal stem cells in drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Drosophila m. has a long history of major contributions to basic biology and biomedical research. Not surprisingly, the recent identification of several multipotent stem cell populations in the Drosophila fly digestive tract has generated an immense enthusiasm in the research community. This experimental model provides a unique opportunity to study adult somatic stem cells, using the power of fly genetics. Over the past few years, research in this field has focused on the characterization of the signaling pathways and mechanisms that control stem cell function and tissue repair in the intestine. Importantly, the rapid aging and short lifespan of Drosophila makethis model ideal to investigate the impact of aging on stem cell populations and test the contribution of somatic stem cells to normal healthspan and lifespan. This chapterpresents recent findings that elucidate the mechanisms causing age-related loss of tissue homeostasis in the fly intestine, as well as strategies of stem cell-specific genetic manipulation that significantly impact physiology in aging animals and can extend lifespan.