IDENTIFYING THE GENETIC SECRETS OF AGING: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF DROSOPHILA TRIP12

Abstract

Aging is a biological process that is complex and is characterized by distinct changes known as the "hallmarks of aging," which leads to decreased organ function and increased disease susceptibility. The Thyroid hormone Receptor Interacting Protein (TRIP12) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase crucial for cellular homeostasis and proteostasis maintenance, its drosophila orthologue is ctrip. TRIP12 is evolutionarily conserved. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) is the model organism used in this study. Our previous investigations demonstrated that ctrip gene expression in the Drosophila intestine influences microbiome composition and may potentially impact longevity. However, the precise mechanisms through which TRIP12 affects the aging process remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the function of ctrip in fruit flies, examining how modifications in its expression within the intestine and brain tissues would affect both life span and health span, which are the two key parameters when assessing aging research. We conducted comprehensive longevity and survival analyses while assessing various health parameters in young (3-5 d.o) and aged (>20 d.o.) Drosophila. These include assessing locomotion, anxiety, fecundity, social interaction, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in the brain and measuring protein aggregates in muscle. This study proposes that modulation of ctrip expression in the intestine, brain and whole body significantly impacts the aging process in Drosophila, affecting both life span and health span parameters via multiple cellular pathways.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Health & Life Sciences