Figure 1.

ATGL-1 is up-regulated by fasting and increases oxygen consumption rate as well as longevity of C. elegans. (A) Wild type (N2) and atgl-1::gfp worms were split into control (Fed) and Fasted groups and stained with Oil Red O. (B) Triglyceride content was measured in Fed and Fasted groups of N2 and atgl-1::gfp worms. (C) RNA was extracted from Fed and Fasted groups, and atgl-1 mRNA levels were measured by qRT-PCR; actin-1/3 was used for normalization. (D) Fed and Fasted L4 stage atgl-1::gfp worms were visualized by fluorescence microscopy (200X, equal exposure times). Bar – 50 μM. (E) Quantification of the results shown in panel D by ImageJ (10 randomly selected worms per group). (F) Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) of N2 and atgl-1::gfp L4 worms was measured by XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer Seahorse, as described in Experimental Procedures. Each experiment was performed with ca. 200 worms and repeated 3 times. (G) Average basal OCR was calculated as the mean of the first five measurements after subtraction of average non-mitochondrial OCR; average maximal OCR is the mean of the last (before addition of sodium azide) five measurements after subtraction of average non-mitochondrial OCR; reserve respiratory capacity is the difference between average maximal and basal OCR. (H) The lifespan of atgl-1::gfp worms is extended by 32% in comparison to N2 (p value < 1.0e-10, log-rank analysis). Panels B, C, E-G show an average result of three independent experiments ±SEM, p values were calculated by unpaired two-tailed t-test. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.