Transcriptomic and metabolomic regulation of temperature-dependent longevity in Drosophila melanogaster

Temperature reduction has been one of the most robust environmental manipulations used to increase lifespan in invertebrates. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to temperature-mediated lifespan extension remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluate how genes and metabolites are altered in response to changes in temperature in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Our data show that environmental temperature affects transcriptome much more than the metabolome. Intriguingly, the most affected candidate genes, the Turandot (tot) family genes, have direct effects on longevity in flies. Specifically, knockdown of tot expression at all temperatures leads to lifespan extension in a sex-specific fashion. Overall, our results imply that individual genes, specifically, the Turandot family of genes that may play a novel role in lifespan regulation in the fruit fly. Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for male and female Drosophila melanogaster whole fly body raised at 18, 24, or 28 degrees Celsius.