View source for Daf-2

The '''''daf-2''''' [[gene]] encodes an [[insulin]]-like [[receptor (biochemistry)|receptor]] in the worm ''[[C. elegans]]''. [[Mutation]]s in ''daf-2'' have been shown by [[Dr. Cynthia Kenyon|Cynthia Kenyon]] to double the lifespan of the worms.<ref>See publications documenting series of experiments at [http://wormworld.ucsf.edu/publications.html Cynthia Kenyon lab], in particular, Jennie B. Dorman, Bella Albinder, Terry Shroyer & Cynthia Kenyon, "The age-1 and daf-2 genes function in a common pathway to control the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans," ''Genetics'', volume 141, number 4, pages 1399-1406 (1995); and Javier Apfeld & Cynthia Kenyon, "Cell non-autonomy of C. elegans daf-2 function in the regulation of diapause and lifespan," ''Cell'', v. 95, n.2, pp.199-210 (1998).</ref>  The gene is known to regulate reproductive development, ageing, resistance to [[oxidative stress]], thermotolerance, resistance to [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]], and also resistance to bacterial [[pathogens]].<ref>{{cite journal| author = Minaxi S Gami and Catherine A Wolkow | year = 2006 | title = Studies of Caenorhabditis elegans DAF-2/insulin signaling reveal targets for pharmacological manipulation of lifespan | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=16441841 | journal = Aging Cell | volume = 5 | issue = 1}}</ref> 

DAF-2 is the only insulin/[[IGF-1]] like receptor in the worm. Insulin/[[IGF-1]]-like signaling is conserved from worms to [[human]]s. DAF-2 acts to negatively regulate the forkhead [[transcription factor]] DAF-16 through a [[phosphorylation]] cascade. Genetic analysis reveals that DAF-16 is required for ''daf-2''-dependent lifespan extension and dauer formation. When not phosphorylated, DAF-16 is active and present in the [[Cell nucleus|nucleus]]. 

==References==

{{reflist|2}}




==External links==
* [http://www.wormbase.org/db/gene/gene?name=daf-2 WormBase entry for daf-2]

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[[Category:C. elegans genes]]
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