Developmental biology

Model organism

Melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster

Evolutionary biology

Biology

Gene

Larva

Ecology

Drosophila (subgenus)

Longevity

Cell biology

Genetics

EMBO Reports

Lifespan is determined by complex and tangled mechanisms that are largely unknown. The early postnatal stage has been proposed to play a role in lifespan, but its contribution is still controversial. Here, we show that a short rapamycin treatment during early life can prolong lifespan in Mus musculus and Drosophila melanogaster. Notably, the same treatment at later time points has no effect on lifespan, suggesting that a specific time window is involved in lifespan regulation. We also find that sulfotransferases are upregulated during early rapamycin treatment both in newborn mice and in Drosophila larvae, and transient dST1 overexpression in Drosophila larvae extends lifespan. Our findings unveil a novel link between early-life treatments and long-term effects on lifespan.

Transient rapamycin treatment during developmental stage extends lifespan in <i>Mus musculus</i> and <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Transient rapamycin treatment during developmental stage extends lifespan in Mus musculus and Drosophila melanogaster