Novel Yeast Model of Aging
Budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or Baker’s yeast, is a commonly used model organism for studying aging due to its similarities to singular eukaryotic cells. There are currently only two models of aging in yeast, chronological and replicative lifespan assays, which are used to measure aging. However, these models are not representative of post-mitotic cells, such as neurons and cardiomyocytes. Therefore, we want to design a new model that can be used to study aging in those types of cells, by developing yeast that mimic post-mitotic cells which do not undergo cell division and nutrient depletion.
Impact of Mitochondrial Deficiency on the Lifespan of Yeast, S.cerevisiae
Mitochondria are critical for supplying energy used in biological processes in cells. Mitochondrial damage is assumed to be a major driver of aging. Currently, there are known lifespan-extending compounds, but their mechanism of actions are still unknown. Therefore, we want to investigate whether the presence of mitochondria is essential for these compounds to work and provide insight on how they are capable of extending lifespan.