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. 2005 Nov 25;1(5):e69. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0010069

Increased Life Span due to Calorie Restriction in Respiratory-Deficient Yeast

Matt Kaeberlein 1,*, Di Hu 2, Emily O Kerr 2, Mitsuhiro Tsuchiya 2, Eric A Westman 2, Nick Dang 2, Stanley Fields 1,3, Brian K Kennedy 2,*
Editor: Stuart Kim4
PMCID: PMC1287956  PMID: 16311627

Abstract

A model for replicative life span extension by calorie restriction (CR) in yeast has been proposed whereby reduced glucose in the growth medium leads to activation of the NAD+–dependent histone deacetylase Sir2. One mechanism proposed for this putative activation of Sir2 is that CR enhances the rate of respiration, in turn leading to altered levels of NAD+ or NADH, and ultimately resulting in enhanced Sir2 activity. An alternative mechanism has been proposed in which CR decreases levels of the Sir2 inhibitor nicotinamide through increased expression of the gene coding for nicotinamidase, PNC1. We have previously reported that life span extension by CR is not dependent on Sir2 in the long-lived BY4742 strain background. Here we have determined the requirement for respiration and the effect of nicotinamide levels on life span extension by CR. We find that CR confers robust life span extension in respiratory-deficient cells independent of strain background, and moreover, suppresses the premature mortality associated with loss of mitochondrial DNA in the short-lived PSY316 strain. Addition of nicotinamide to the medium dramatically shortens the life span of wild type cells, due to inhibition of Sir2. However, even in cells lacking both Sir2 and the replication fork block protein Fob1, nicotinamide partially prevents life span extension by CR. These findings (1) demonstrate that respiration is not required for the longevity benefits of CR in yeast, (2) show that nicotinamide inhibits life span extension by CR through a Sir2-independent mechanism, and (3) suggest that CR acts through a conserved, Sir2-independent mechanism in both PSY316 and BY4742.

Synopsis

Calorie restriction slows aging and increases life span in nearly every organism studied. The mechanism by which this occurs is one of the most important unanswered questions in biogerontology. One popular theory, based on work from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proposes that calorie restriction works by causing a metabolic shift toward increased mitochondrial respiration, resulting in activation of a family of proteins known as Sirtuins. This study demonstrates that life span extension by calorie restriction does not require respiration and occurs even in cells completely lacking mitochondrial DNA. Interestingly, calorie restriction protects yeast cells against a severe longevity defect associated with absence of mitochondrial DNA, suggesting the possibility that the consequences of age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction might be alleviated or prevented by calorie restriction.

Introduction

Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to slow aging in evolutionarily divergent species, including yeast, worms, flies, and rodents [1–5]. In addition to increasing longevity, CR is reported to cause additional phenotypes, including increased resistance to oxidative stress [6–8], enhanced DNA damage repair [9,10], decreased levels of oxidatively damaged proteins [11–13], improved glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity [14–16], altered levels of apoptosis [17], and delayed onset of a number of age-related diseases [18–21]. Although it has been known for more than 70 y that calorie restriction can increase life span in mammals [22], a mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon has remained elusive. It seems clear that nutrient and growth factor responsive pathways, such as those mediated by insulin, IGF-1, TOR, and Akt, are likely to represent important conduits through which these signals affect the aging rate. CR mediates enhancement of stress response pathways in mammals [23,24], and signaling through the insulin-like pathway in worms coordinates expression of a variety of antioxidant, chaperone, and anti-bacterial stress response proteins [25–27]. Similarly, TOR-mediated regulation of translational machinery appears to play a role in the response to nutrient deprivation in yeast [28], worms [29,30], flies [31], and mammals [32]. Finally, models postulating a role for Sir2-like protein deacetylases in CR-mediated life span extension have gained popularity for yeast [33], flies [34], and mammals, as well [4,35].

In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CR can be imposed by reducing the concentration of glucose in the growth medium, resulting in a 20%–40% increase in replicative life span in multiple strain backgrounds [33,36,37]. In addition, genetic models of CR include deletion of the gene coding for hexokinase, HXK2, and mutations that decrease signaling through the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKA, such as deletion of the genes coding for the glucose sensing proteins GPA2 or GPR1, and temperature-sensitive alleles of adenylate cyclase (cdc35–1) or the RAS-associated GTPase (cdc25–10) [33].

CR has been proposed to increase yeast replicative life span by a mechanism involving activation of Sir2 [33], an NAD+–dependent histone deacetylase [38–40] that inhibits the formation of extrachromosomal rDNA circles (ERCs) [41]. ERCs are self-replicating DNA molecules that accumulate in the mother-cell nucleus with age and are thought to cause senescence [42]. Overexpression of Sir2 increases life span in multiple strain backgrounds [36,41,43], and deletion of Sir2 shortens life span by about 50% [41,44]. CR fails to increase the life span of short-lived sir2Δ cells [33], consistent with the idea that CR could be acting by a mechanism involving Sir2.

The question of how CR might activate Sir2 has been a source of considerable controversy [45]. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a facultative anaerobe that, under standard laboratory growth conditions (2% glucose), generates ATP largely by fermentation. Under conditions of reduced glucose, such as CR, S. cerevisiae shifts from fermentation to respiration, resulting in increased transcription of respiratory genes and a higher rate of oxygen consumption [46]. In models put forth by Lin et al., this metabolic shift results in activation of Sir2, either through increased cellular NAD+ [46] or decreased cellular NADH [47]. Alternatively, Anderson et al. have reported that CR does not alter NAD+ levels [48], but leads to enhanced expression of PNC1 and a reduction in cellular nicotinamide [49]. Since nicotinamide is an inhibitor of the Sir2 deacetylation reaction, its decreased concentration could result in enhanced Sir2 activity [50,51]. Overexpression of Pnc1 suppresses the effect of exogenously added nicotinamide on Sir2-dependent silencing at HM loci, telomeres, and rDNA [52]; there are conflicting reports, however, on whether Pnc1 overexpression alters Sir2 activity at endogenous levels of nicotinamide [49,52].

More recently, we have questioned the importance of Sir2 in life span extension by CR [28,53]. In a long-lived strain background, BY4742, CR increases life span to a greater extent in cells lacking both Sir2 and the replication fork barrier protein Fob1 than in wild-type cells [36]. Based on this observation, and the fact that deletion of SIR2 shortens life span by approximately 50%, we proposed a model whereby the inability of CR to increase life span in sir2Δ FOB1 cells is explained as an indirect effect, resulting from the hyperaccumulation of ERCs [36]. Deletion of FOB1 in a sir2Δ background suppresses the hyperaccumulation of ERCs, as well as the longevity defect [41], thus allowing CR to dramatically increase the life span of cells in the absence of Sir2 [36].

Much of the early work suggesting a link between CR and Sir2 was carried out in the PSY316 strain background [33,37,46,47,49,50,54], a strain in which, paradoxically, overexpression of Sir2 fails to increase life span [55]. Guarente and Picard [35] have proposed that CR might act via different mechanisms in the BY4742 and PSY316 strain backgrounds. In order to further clarify the molecular mechanism(s) underlying replicative life span extension by calorie restriction in yeast, we have sought to directly test key components of the models for Sir2-dependent CR in both of these strains. Here, we examine in detail the role of respiratory metabolism in life span extension by CR, finding that (1) respiration is not required for life span extension by CR; and (2) CR suppresses the enhanced early mortality, only apparent in PSY316, due to loss of mitochondrial DNA. In contrast, exogenous addition of nicotinamide partially, but not completely, blocks Sir2-independent life span extension by CR.

Results

Life Span Extension by CR Is Independent of Respiration in BY4742

A central facet of the Sir2-dependent models for life span extension by CR is that a metabolic shift from fermentation to respiration in response to CR results in activation of Sir2 [46,47]. Since Sir2 is not required for life span extension by CR in BY4742 [36], we wished to determine whether respiration was also dispensable. The effect of CR in the absence of respiratory capacity was examined using rho0 cells, which completely lack mitochondrial DNA. Rho0 yeast lack three cytochrome c oxidase subunits (COX1, COX2, and COX3), three ATP synthase subunits (ATP6, ATP8, and ATP9), and apocytochrome b (CYTB), and are therefore incapable of respiratory metabolism [56,57]. BY4742 rho0 cells were generated (see Materials and Methods), and the absence of mitochondrial DNA was verified by staining cells with DAPI (Figure 1A). Lack of respiratory capacity in rho0 cells was confirmed by inability to grow on the non-fermentable carbon source, glycerol (Figure 1B). As previously observed [58], replicative life span under standard conditions (2% glucose) was not altered by loss of mitochondrial DNA in this strain (Figure 1C). CR (0.05% glucose) significantly enhanced the life span of both wild-type and rho0 cells to a comparable degree. Thus, respiration is not required for life span extension by CR in the long-lived BY4742 strain background.

Figure 1. Respiration Is Not Required for Life Span Extension by CR in BY4742.

Figure 1

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(A) BY4742 rho0 strains lack mitochondrial DNA. DAPI staining of BY4742 (i) wild-type or (ii) rho0 cells grown under standard conditions (2% glucose) and calorie-restricted (iii) wild-type or (iv) rho0 cells (CR = 0.05% glucose).

(B) BY4742 rho0 strains are unable to grow on glycerol as the sole carbon source. (i) BY4742 wild-type or (ii) rho0 cells on YEP supplemented with 2% glucose or 3% glycerol.

(C) CR increase life span in BY4742 rho0 cells. Replicative life span analysis for BY4742 wild-type and rho0 cells on 2% glucose and 0.05% glucose (CR). Mean life span is shown in parentheses.

Life Span Extension by CR Is Independent of Respiration in PSY316

Previous work indicating that life span extension by CR is dependent on respiration was carried out in the PSY316 strain background, in which it was reported that deletion of the gene coding for cytochrome c1, CYT1, prevents life span extension by CR [46]. In order to address whether life span extension by CR in mutants incapable of respiratory metabolism is specific to BY4742, we generated respiratory-deficient cyt1Δ and rho0 variants in the PSY316 background (Figure 2A and 2B) and measured life span on medium containing either 2% or 0.05% glucose. As in BY4742 rho0 cells, CR significantly increased both mean and maximum life span in PSY316 rho0 (Figure 2C) and cyt1Δ cells (Figure 2D).

Figure 2. Respiration Is Not Required for Life Span Extension by CR in PSY316.

Figure 2

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(A) PSY316AUT rho0 strains lack mitochondrial DNA. DAPI staining of PSY316 (i) wild-type or (ii) rho0 cells grown under standard conditions (2% glucose) and calorie-restricted (iii) wild-type or (iv) rho0 cells (CR = 0.05% glucose).

(B) PSY316AUT rho0 strains are unable to grow on glycerol as the sole carbon source. (i) PSY316AUT wild-type, (ii) cyt1Δ rho0, (iii) cyt1Δ, or (iv) rho0 cells on YEP supplemented with 2% glucose or 3% glycerol.

(C) CR increases life span in PSY316AUT rho0 cells. Replicative life span analysis for PSY316AUT wild-type and rho0 cells on 2% glucose and 0.05% glucose (CR). Mean life span is shown in parentheses.

(D) CR increases the life span of cyt1Δ cells. Replicative life span analysis for PSY316AUT wild-type and cyt1Δ cells on 2% glucose and 0.05% glucose (CR). Mean life span is shown in parentheses.

(E) CR increases the life span of cyt1Δ rho0 cells. Replicative life span analysis for PSY316AUT wild-type and cyt1Δ rho0 cells on 2% glucose and cyt1Δ rho0 cells on 0.05% glucose (CR). Mean life span is shown in parentheses.

Unlike the case in BY4742 in which deletion of mitochondrial DNA has no effect on life span, PSY316 rho0 variants exhibited a profound increase in early mortality under standard growth conditions. This phenotype was not observed in cyt1Δ cells, indicating that loss of mitochondrial DNA, rather than general respiratory deficiency, is responsible for the life span defect. Deletion of CYT1 in cells lacking mitochondrial DNA, however, resulted in a short life span comparable to that of rho0 cells (Figure 2E), demonstrating that rho0 is epistatic to cyt1Δ for this phenotype. As observed for rho0 cells, CR more than doubled the short life span of cyt1Δ rho0 cells, which contain both nuclear and mitochondrial mutations that prevent respiration.

Our observation that CR increased life span in PSY316 cells lacking CYT1 is in contrast to a previous report [46]. A potential explanation for this difference is that 0.5% glucose was used for CR in the prior study, rather than the 0.05% glucose concentration used in this study. We therefore measured the life span of respiratory deficient rho0 and cyt1Δ cells grown on 0.5% glucose. As we observed for cells grown on 0.05% glucose, growth on 0.5% glucose increased the life span of rho0 and cyt1Δ cells, although the magnitude of life span extension is reduced relative to 0.05% glucose (Figure 3A). Thus, the use of a non-optimal level of CR may have precluded detection of life span extension by CR in cyt1Δ mutants in the prior study.

Figure 3. Effect of Glucose Concentration on Life Span and Sir2 Activity in Respiratory-Deficient Mutants.

Figure 3

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(A) Mean replicative life span is significantly increased in PSY316 AUT cyt1Δ and rho0 cells as the glucose concentration is decreased to either 0.5% or 0.05%, relative to life span on 2% glucose. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

(B) Sir2 activity is not increased by CR but is responsive to increased expression of Sir2 or to addition of exogenous nicotinamide. Transcriptional silencing of the telomeric URA3 marker in PSY316AUT (WT) was monitored by the survival of cells plated onto medium containing 5-FOA.

(C) Sir2 activity is not altered in respiratory deficient cyt1Δ cells and is unaffected by CR. Transcriptional silencing of the telomeric URA3 marker in PSY316AUT (WT) was monitored by the survival of cells plated onto medium containing 5-FOA.

We also examined the effect of CR on Sir2 activity in respiratory-deficient PSY316 cells. The PSY316AUT variant has both URA3 and ADE2 marker genes integrated near telomeres, thus allowing for efficient determination of Sir2-dependent telomeric silencing in response to genetic or environmental perturbations [55]. As previously reported, increased Sir2 activity can be achieved by overexpression of SIR2 in the PSY316 strain background [55], significantly enhancing telomere silencing and survival on FOA, while inhibition of Sir2 by addition of 5 mM nicotinamide to the medium decreased telomere silencing (Figure 3B). CR, however, had no detectable effect on Sir2-dependent silencing at telomeres. Similarly, respiratory deficiency caused by deletion of CYT1 also fails to impact Sir2-dependent silencing at either 2% or 0.05% glucose (Figure 3C). A decrease in survival on FOA was observed in rho0 cells relative to wild-type or cyt1Δ cells at 2% glucose (Figure S1); however, CR failed to result in a detectable increase in Sir2 activity in respiratory deficient or respiratory competent cells. Therefore, we find no evidence that a metabolic shift from fermentation toward respiration is involved in life span extension by CR or that Sir2 is activated in response to CR.

Nicotinamide Blocks Life Span Extension by CR

CR has also been proposed to activate Sir2 by reducing cellular pools of nicotinamide, a Sir2 inhibitor [50]. Addition of 5 mM nicotinamide to the medium prevents life span extension by CR in wild-type mother cells [49]; however, interpretation of this experiment is complicated by the fact that, like deletion of SIR2, high levels of nicotinamide result in a dramatically shortened life span. We took advantage of the fact that deletion of FOB1 suppresses the short life span and ERC hyperaccumulation phenotypes associated with deletion or inhibition of Sir2 [41] to ask whether nicotinamide could inhibit the longevity effect of calorie restriction, even in the absence of Sir2. As expected, growth on 5 mM nicotinamide reduced the life span of wild-type cells to a level not significantly different from that of sir2Δ cells (Figure 4A). The very short life span of sir2Δ cells or nicotinamide-treated wild-type cells is most likely due to the hyperaccumulation of ERCs in cells lacking Sir2 activity [36,41]. Also as expected, nicotinamide had no effect on the life span of sir2Δ fob1Δ double mutants (Figure 4B), because Sir2 is already absent from these cells. CR dramatically increased the life span of sir2Δ fob1Δ double mutants, but, unexpectedly, addition of nicotinamide decreased the magnitude of life span extension conferred by CR (Figure 4B). Thus, Sir2-independent life span extension by CR is partially prevented by nicotinamide.

Figure 4. Effect of Nicotinamide on Life Span Extension by CR.

Figure 4

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(A) Nicotinamide shortens the life span of wild-type cells. Replicative life span analysis for BY4742 wild-type and sir2Δ cells on 2% glucose containing or lacking 5 mM nicotinamide (nic). Mean life span is shown in parentheses.

(B) Nicotinamide partially prevents Sir2-independent life span extension by CR. Replicative life span analysis for BY4742 wild type on 2% glucose, along with sir2Δ fob1Δ double mutant cells on 2% glucose or 0.05% glucose (CR) containing or lacking 5 mM nicotinamide (nic). Mean life span is shown in parentheses.

Discussion

Role of Respiration and Nicotinamide in Life Span Extension by CR

Sir2 is dispensable for life span extension by CR in yeast [36]. It remains possible, however, that under some conditions, CR might be mediated by Sir2. Central to this possibility is the premise that CR results in activation of Sir2. One mechanism by which CR has been hypothesized to activate Sir2 involves altered levels of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactors NAD+ and NADH, resulting from a metabolic shift toward increased respiration in response to CR [46,47]. The other mechanism by which CR has been suggested to activate Sir2 is through a reduction in nicotinamide levels [49].

An important test of the respiration-dependent model for CR is whether CR can increase life span in cells that are incapable of respiration. Contradictory to the prediction from this model, we find that respiration is dispensable for enhanced longevity in response to CR. Growth on reduced glucose resulted in increased life span in two distinct models of respiratory deficiency, cyt1Δ and rho0 (see Figures 1C and 2C–2E). These data, combined with the observation that inhibition of Sir2 cannot account for the effect of nicotinamide on life span extension by CR (Figure 4B), call into question the proposed molecular explanations for activation of Sir2 in response to CR. Further, we find no evidence that Sir2 activity is altered either by CR or by respiratory deficiency, as measured by Sir2-dependent transcriptional silencing near telomeres (see Figure 3B and 3C). This result does not rule out the possibility that CR specifically enhances Sir2 activity at the rDNA; however, like the case at telomeres, Sir2-dependent silencing of a modified URA3 marker gene inserted into the rDNA is not enhanced by CR (J. Smith, personal communication). Thus, we propose that life span extension by CR occurs through a conserved Sir2-independent, respiration-independent mechanism (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Genetic Pathways Determining Replicative Life Span in Yeast.

Figure 5

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Sir2 and CR act in parallel pathways to slow aging. Both pathways are affected by nicotinamide levels.

It should be noted that our results do not contradict previous findings that increased respiration correlates with replicative life span in PSY316. Overexpression of the HAP4 transcription factor, which results in transcriptional up-regulation of respiratory genes and increased oxygen consumption, or overexpression of a mitochondrial NADH oxidoreductase, are reported to increase life span in PSY316 [46,47]. It remains possible that these interventions do indeed activate Sir2 by altering levels of NAD+ or NADH, as proposed. Alternatively, these interventions may behave as genetic mimics of CR, increasing life span through a Sir2-independent mechanism.

Our data suggest that high levels of nicotinamide can alter the response of yeast cells to CR. How might nicotinamide interfere with life span extension by CR? We can imagine at least three possible models. First, nicotinamide could partially block CR by inhibiting the activity of the other yeast Sirtuins (Hst1–4). This model seems unlikely because CR increases the life span of yeast cells lacking both Sir2 and either Hst1, Hst2, Hst3, or Hst4, and CR increases the life span of a sir2Δ fob1Δ hst1Δ hst2Δ quadruple mutant by greater than 50% (unpublished data). Second, nicotinamide could specifically interfere with the longevity benefits of CR, but through a mechanism unrelated to Sirtuin action. Nicotinamide, conventionally classified as a vitamin, participates in many biological processes distinct from Sirtuins [59], and could conceivably alter the activity of any NAD+–binding protein in the cell. Third, a reduction in nicotinamide levels conferred by CR might be important to offset detrimental effects, resulting from growth on reduced glucose medium, that are themselves unrelated to replicative aging, but may shorten life span to an extent that it masks life span extension by CR. Further study will be required to distinguish between these models.

Mitochondrial Defects, CR, and Longevity

Defects in mitochondrial function cause several human diseases, and mutation of mitochondrial DNA has been suggested to result in age-associated phenotypes in mammals [60–62]. Yeast provides a unique model in which to study the phenotypic consequences of mutation to the mitochondrial genome. With respect to replicative life span, complete deletion of the mitochondrial genome (rho0) results in different phenotypic outcomes depending on the genetic background of the strain [58,63]. Indeed, we report here that rho0 cells of BY4742 have a life span comparable to that of wild-type cells, whereas, rho0 cells of PSY316 are extremely short-lived (compare Figure 1C with Figure 2C). Presumably, this difference is the result of polymorphisms present in the nuclear genomes of these strains. Interestingly, in the PSY316 strain background, a nuclear mutation (cyt1Δ) that prevents respiration results in a life span comparable to that of wild-type cells (see Figure 2D). Thus, the short life span of PSY316 rho0 cells is apparently caused by loss of mitochondrial DNA rather than a general consequence of respiratory deficiency.

Although the PSY316 rho0 variant is extremely short-lived, CR by growth on low glucose is capable of increasing the life span of these cells by more than 100% (see Figure 3A). In fact, CR increases life span of the rho0 strain to a level that is comparable to calorie-restricted wild-type cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first indication, in any organism, that CR has a beneficial effect on defects caused by deletion of mitochondrial DNA. It will be of interest to understand the molecular basis for this effect and to determine whether this is a general feature of CR in multicellular eukaryotes.

Conclusion

Three competing models of life span extension by CR in yeast have been put forward: (1) Sir2 activation through a metabolic shift to respiration [46,47], (2) Sir2 activation by decreased nicotinamide levels [49], and (3) Sir2-independent life span extension [28,36]. Although CR can increase life span by a Sir2-independent mechanism [36], it remains to be determined whether either of the Sir2-dependent models account for a portion of the longevity benefits of CR under any conditions. We show here that in two different strain backgrounds, one of which is the PSY316 strain background used to generate the data supporting the Sir2-dependent models, life span extension by CR does not require respiration. We also show that the partial inhibition of CR by addition of exogenous nicotinamide does not act through Sir2. Thus, activation of Sir2 through a metabolic shift to respiration or through depletion of intracellular nicotinamide cannot explain CR-mediated increases in longevity.

Materials and Methods

Strains and media.

Unless otherwise stated, all yeast strains were derived from the parent strain for the haploid yeast open reading frame (ORF) deletion collection [64], BY4742 (obtained from Research Genetics, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California, United States) or from PSY316AUT [55]. Strains used in this study are listed in Table 1. Gene disruptions were carried out by transforming yeast with PCR-amplified deletion constructs containing 45 nucleotides of homology to regions flanking the ORF to be deleted and either HIS3, LEU2, or URA3 amplified from pRS403, pRS405, or pRS406 [65], respectively. In each case, the entire ORF of the deleted gene was removed. All gene disruptions were verified by PCR. Medium used for life span studies was YEP (2% bacto peptone, 1% yeast extract) supplemented with filter-sterilized glucose at the designated concentration. For nicotinamide supplementation experiments, nicotinamide was added to YEP from a 500 mM nicotinamide (100×) filter sterilized stock solution to a final concentration of 5 mM just prior to pouring plates. Nicotinamide was obtained from Sigma (St. Louis, Missouri, United States).

Table 1.

Yeast Strains Used in This Study

graphic file with name pgen.0010069.t001.jpg

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Generation of rho0 strains and verification by DAPI staining.

The rho0 strains used for life span analysis were generated by treatment with ethidium bromide. In each case, life span was determined for more than one rho0 isolate in order to verify the observed phenotype. In the case of PSY316AUT rho0, four different rho0 isolates were examined, and the severe shortening in life span was observed in all four cases. Life span was also determined for spontaneously arising PSY316AUT rho0 cells, which showed a life span defect similar to that of rho0 cells generated by ethidium bromide. Absence of mitochondrial DNA was verified by fluorescence microscopy of log phase cells stained with DAPI.

Replicative life span analysis.

Replicative life span analysis was carried out as described [58]. For all life span experiments, strains were coded such that the researcher performing the life span experiment had no knowledge of the strain genotypes. Unless otherwise stated, standard life span medium was YEP + 2% glucose (YPD) and CR medium was YEP + 0.05% glucose. Life span experiments in the presence of nicotinamide were carried out at a final concentration of 5 mM nicotinamide in the plates. Cells were grown on experimental medium for at least 8 h prior to microdissection. Wilcoxon p-values were calculated using the MATLAB “ranksum” function, and strains are stated to have a significant difference in life span for p < 0.05.

FOA telomere silencing assays.

For the silencing experiment shown in Figure 3B and Figure S1, three independent cultures were inoculated from single colonies into liquid YPD for each genotype and grown overnight. The next morning, each overnight culture was diluted 1:100 into YPD or CR medium and grown for 4 h in a shaking incubator. Cultures were then diluted to a cell density of approximately 2 × 103 cells/ml in water, and plated in 100-μl aliquots onto synthetic complete (SC) or FOA medium, containing either 2% or 0.05% glucose, such that cells cultured in 2% glucose were plated onto 2% glucose plates and cells cultured in CR medium were plated onto 0.05% glucose plates (CR plates). Percent survival was calculated as the number of colonies arising on FOA medium divided by the number of colonies arising on SC medium. Nicotinamide silencing experiments were carried out as above, except that after the overnight culture, cells were preincubated for 4 h in YPD + 5 mM nicotinamide and plated onto SC + 5 mM nicotinamide or FOA + 5 mM nicotinamide.

For the silencing experiment shown in Figure 3C, cultures of wild-type or cyt1Δ cells were inoculated from single colonies into liquid YPD or CR medium. The next morning, each overnight culture was diluted 1:1000 into fresh control or CR medium, such that cells grown overnight in control medium were diluted in control medium and cells grown overnight in CR medium were diluted into CR medium, and grown for 8 h in a shaking incubator. Cell cycle division time for BY4742 control cells was approximately 95 min and for BY4742 CR cells was approximately 105 min. After outgrowth, cultures were then diluted to a cell density of approximately 2 × 103 cells/ml in water, and plated in 100-μl aliquots onto SC or FOA medium, containing either 2% or 0.05% glucose, such that cells cultured in 2% glucose were plated onto 2% glucose plates and cells cultured in CR medium were plated onto CR plates. Percent survival was calculated as the number of colonies arising on FOA medium divided by the number of colonies arising on SC medium.

Supporting Information

Figure S1. CR Has No Effect on Sir2 Activity in Respiratory-Competent or Respiratory-Deficient Cells.

Transcriptional silencing of the telomeric URA3 marker in PSY316AUT was monitored by the survival of cells plated onto medium containing 5-FOA.

(42 KB PDF)

Click here for additional data file. (43KB, pdf)

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank J. Smith, D. Gottschling, and T. Powers for helpful discussion. This work has been funded by a grant from the Ellison Medical Foundation. Support for this work has also been provided by the American Federation for Aging Research and the University of Washington Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for the Basic Biology of Aging. MK is supported by National Institutes of Health training grant P30 AG013280. SF is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. BKK is a Searle Scholar.

Abbreviations

CR

calorie restriction

ERC

extrachromosomal rDNA circles

ORF

open reading frame

SC

synthetic complete

Footnotes

Competing interests. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author contributions. MK, SF, and BKK conceived and designed the experiments. MK, DH, EOK, MT, ND, and BKK performed the experiments. MK and BKK analyzed the data. MK, DH, EAW, and BKK contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools. MK and BKK wrote the paper.

A previous version of this article appeared as an Early Online Release on October 25, 2005 (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0010069.eor).

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Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

Figure S1. CR Has No Effect on Sir2 Activity in Respiratory-Competent or Respiratory-Deficient Cells.

Transcriptional silencing of the telomeric URA3 marker in PSY316AUT was monitored by the survival of cells plated onto medium containing 5-FOA.

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