1. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Genetic and Molecular Determinants of Human Ageing and Longevity - DNA repair, pro- and antioxidant and insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathways Why do we age so differently? M.Sc. Mette Sørensen Ph.D. student at SDU Supervisors: Associate Professor Lene Christiansen Professor Kaare Christensen Associate Professor Tinna Stevnsner Professor Vilhelm A. Bohr VELUX FONDEN Funded by:

2. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Presentation Outline Background Genetic influence on ageing and longevity Candidate biological pathways Single nucleotide polymorphisms – SNPs The purposes and the status of the project Subproject 1 – Association study of genetic variations in candidate genes/pathways with longevity and aging Golden Gate chip and more. Subproject 2 – Functional studies of genetic variation Pilot study of rs4880 2

3. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Genetic factors influence age-related diseases and age-related physical and cognitive functions Genetic factors contribute to the variation in lifespan by approximately 25%. The contribution is minimal before age 60 years and most profound from 85 years and onwards Candidate biological pathways for ageing and longevity: Lipid metabolism Immune response Cell cycle regulation Insulin metabolism Antioxidants DNA repair....... Genetic Influence on Ageing and Longevity

4. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Estimate: 3 -15 10 6 SNPs in the human genome (1/200- 1/1000 nucleotides) Person A... GAA GGA CGA GAA... Person B... GAA GGA TGA GAA... Person A... Glu Ala Arg Glu... Person B... Glu Ala Stop Consequences; amino acid substitution, Splice site etc.

5. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc 5 The Purpose of Subproject 1 Investigate the association of genetic variation in candidate genes composing DNA repair, pro/antioxidant and insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathways with human longevity and ageing (e.g. disease prevalence, physical and cognitive abilities) Longitudinal study: 1651 individuals of The Danish 1905 birth cohort Follow-up time: 10 years, age at death 92-100+ Interviews and assessments of functional and cognitive abilities Cross sectional study: 800 individuals of the Study of Middle Aged Danish Twins, age 42-65 Interviews and assessments of functional and cognitive abilities

6. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Status of Subproject 1 Literature search choosing 168 candidate genes Association studies of longevity and/or age-related diseases Relevant for premature aging syndromes Animal research (e.g. knock outs) Additional genes to cover the pathways Database search choosing 1536 SNPs Association candidate SNPs Functional SNPs (non-synonymous, splice site etc.) Tagging SNPs to cover the genetic variation Linkage disequilibrium (the non-random association of alleles at two or more loci). Purification of 2400 DNA samples for Golden Gate chip (1536 SNPs * 2400 individuals)

7. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Genotyping (Aros Biotechnology), finish in May 2009 Data Analysis is started – Genome Studio, Plink Next: Data Analysis Additional genotyping (Taqman, SNPlex methods): In depth of possible Golden Gate chip findings Additional SNPs (impossible via Golden Gate chip)

8. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc The Purpose of Subproject 2 Investigate the functional consequences of SNPs Findings via the Golden Gate Chip Recombinant variant RecQ helicases; genes are on Golden Gate chip, made in corroboration with the Aarhus group

9. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Pilot study of the SOD2-rs4880 SNP and longevity in the 1905 cohort, Background: Epidemiology: rs4880 has been shown to be associated the several age-related diseases (e.g. cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's). Animal research: SOD2 knock outs Decreased life span (D. melanogaster) or neonatal lethality (m. musculus) Over expression Increased life span (D. melanogaster and m. musculus) Molecular biology: rs4880 in the mitochondrial targeting sequence less transport of T variant precursor protein into the mitochondrial matrix 4 x more processed MnSOD / MnSOD activity in C variant cells than in T cells 60% lower O 2.- levels in C cells than in T cells

10. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Pilot study of the SOD2-rs4880 SNP and longevity in the 1905 cohort, (one of) the result(s): Increased survival of SOD2-rs4880 CC/CT individuals: Mortality risk (CC/CT vs. TT): 0.91, P = 0.002

11. - D A N I S H A G I N G R E S E A R C H C E N T E R - www.sdu.dk/darc Published in Spring 2009: