Locust transcriptome data for Aging model

Aging is an extremely complex and multifactorial process characterized by the progressive degeneration of organ systems and tissues. Various aging models with their own specific advantages are of great values for dissecting aging characteristics and mechanisms. Here, we proposed a famous insect species, Locusta migratoria, with short lifespan and large body size, as a new invertebrate aging model to study aging process at the tissue level. We first characterized several significant aging-related phenotypes of locust adults and determined their aging-related transcriptomic profiles in multiple tissues. Through comparing with GenAge database, a common signature of aging-related genes was found between the locust and other model species. Transcriptional and histological analyses further revealed that locusts displayed tissue-specific aging trajectories characterized by dramatic deterioration of flight muscle and fat body, but relative stability of testis and brain. Finally, we validated functional roles of eight selected aging-related genes involved in different pathways through RNA interference, proposing several new potential aging-regulatory genes. Our study would greatly advance the utility of the locust as a valuable aging-study model with its conservation and tissue specificity of aging signatures as well as genetic tractability.