1. The p66Shc knocked out mice are short lived under natural condition.
- Author
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Giorgio, Marco, Berry, Alessandra, Berniakovich, Ina, Poletaeva, Inga, Trinei, Mirella, Stendardo, Massimo, Hagopian, Kevork, Ramsey, Jon J., Cortopassi, Gino, Migliaccio, Enrica, Nötzli, Sarah, Amrein, Irmgard, Lipp, Hans P., Cirulli, Francesca, and Pelicci, Pier G.
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AGE factors in disease ,BODY temperature regulation ,ENERGY metabolism ,ECOLOGICAL niche ,COMPETITION (Biology) ,REPRODUCTION ,LABORATORY mice - Abstract
Summary Deletion of the p66
Shc gene results in lean and healthy mice, retards aging, and protects from aging-associated diseases, raising the question of why p66Shc has been selected, and what is its physiological role. We have investigated survival and reproduction of p66Shc −/− mice in a population living in a large outdoor enclosure for a year, subjected to food competition and exposed to winter temperatures. Under these conditions, deletion of p66Shc was strongly counterselected. Laboratory studies revealed that p66Shc −/− mice have defects in fat accumulation, thermoregulation, and reproduction, suggesting that p66Shc has been evolutionarily selected because of its role in energy metabolism. These findings imply that the health impact of targeting aging genes might depend on the specific energetic niche and caution should be exercised against premature conclusions regarding gene functions that have only been observed in protected laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2012
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