Scientists extend fruit fly longevity

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have found the cancer-suppressing protein p53 can expand the life of fruit flies by acting in only a few brain cells.

Two years ago, Brown University researchers discovered decreasing the activity of p53 expanded the longevity of fruit flies. In the new study, the same team found p53 might produce such a lifespan-extending phenomena by acting in 14 insulin-producing cells in the fly brain.

"It's quite surprising," said Johannes Bauer, a postdoctoral research fellow and lead author of the study led by Professor Stephen Helfand. "In the fruit fly brain, there are tens of thousands of cells. But we found that it takes a reduction of p53 activity in only 14 of those brain cells to extend lifespan. It was like finding a needle in the haystack -- a very small needle at that."

The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is to be discussed this week during the Biology of Aging Conference, in Les Diablerets, Switzerland.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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