Negative genetic correlation between longevity and its hormetic extension by dietary restriction in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Longevity is a highly malleable trait which is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors including nutrition. Mild stress of dietary restriction (DR) is often beneficial by extending longevity in many organisms. Here, DR-induced effects on longevity were tested for genetic variation in a set of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) in D. melanogaster. Genetic variability was significant in the longevity response following a DR-treatment across RIL, with detrimental effects in several RIL but beneficial effects in other RIL. One quantitative trait locus (QTL) was consistently significant in the middle of chromosome 2 for DR-induced changes in longevity, including hormesis (an increase in longevity by DR). Another QTL co-localized with a previously found QTL for starvation resistance in females. Several other QTL were also significant on most chromosomal arms. Longevity in controls was negatively correlated to DR effects across RIL for longevity in females, the sex showing higher DR-induced hormesis. This negative genetic correlation highlights the importance to further investigate the effects of genetic variation in the strength of DR-induced hormesis in longevity and its sex-specificity.