Genetic and molecular determinants of muscle ageing – MUSAGE

Ageing is one of the most important challenges that modern societies have to struggle in order to prevent the burden of age-associated diseases and dependency. Longitudinal studies showed that physical performance is the most predictive criterion for mortality in the elderly. Thus, deciphering the limiting factors that cause muscle aging is a major public health issue. MUSAGE project aims to identify mechanisms responsible for muscle aging by novel approaches in C.elegans. Based on our recently published data we set-up an original non-targeted genetic screen that allowed us to identify unexpected regulators of muscle aging that are conserved through species. Based on those results, the main objectives of this proposal are: 1- Identify other regulators of muscle aging by extending the screen, 2- Define the molecular mechanisms by which one already identified (UNC-27/TNI) regulator is acting, 3- Evaluate the functional conservation of identified regulators in mammals.