Branched-chain amino acid catabolism is a conserved regulator of physiological ageing

Ageing has been defined as a global decline in physiological function depending on both environmental and genetic factors. Here we identify gene transcripts that are similarly regulated during physiological ageing in nematodes, zebrafish and mice. We observe the strongest extension of lifespan when impairing expression of the branched-chain amino acid transferase-1 ( bcat-1 ) gene in C. elegans , which leads to excessive levels of branched-chain...