The Impact of col-93 on Locomotion and Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans through Regulation of the Heat Shock Factor-1 Signaling Pathway

This study investigates the impact of COL-93 encoding gene on the aging process of Caenorhabditis elegans. The age-associated significantly differentially expressed gene col-93 was identified from public databases. The col-93p::HIS-24::mCherry (strain SD1391) nematode line was used to detect the spatial expression pattern and expression levels of col-93. Subsequent col-93 gene silencing was performed for lifespan assays, acute heat stress tests, fecundity assays and progeny lifespan assays. qRT-PCR analyses were to quantify expression levels of key genes in the HSF-1, IIS (insulin/IGF-1 signaling), and mTOR signaling pathways. The results demon- strated that col-93 was predominantly expressed in the cuticle of C. elegans. Knocking down col-93 shortened lifespan and reduced thermotolerance and motility, but did not affect the amounts of eggs laid or the lifespan of their offspring. Furthermore, col-93 knockdown decreased the expression of genes in the HSF-1 pathway-related genes (hsf-1, hsp-70) and increased the expression of genes in the IIS pathway-related genes (daf-16, ctl-1, sod-3). The results showed that col-93 expression was significantly decreased in senescent nematodes, and col-93 modulated their motility and lifespan by regulatingthe HSF-1 signaling pathway.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2025.12.0007