%20is%20known%20to%20extend%20lifespan%20in%20yeast,%20but%20how%20this%20benefit%20is%20communicated%20between%20cells%20has%20remained%20unclear.%20In%20this%20study,%20researchers%20found%20that%20while%20CR%20does...){kind=link}
Nicotinamide Riboside Mediates Longevity Benefits of Calorie Restriction: Preclinical Findings
Synopsis
Calorie restriction (CR) is known to extend lifespan in yeast, but how this benefit is communicated between cells has remained unclear. In this study, researchers found that while CR does not significantly change overall NAD+ levels inside cells, it increases the production of two key enzymes—Sir2 and Pnc1—that convert NAD+ into nicotinic acid (NA). Interestingly, when yeast mother cells grown under CR conditions were moved away from their original environment, they lost the longevity benefits of CR. However, adding nicotinic acid (NA) or nicotinamide riboside (NR) restored their extended lifespan. Moreover, media from CR-treated cells could transfer the longevity benefit to other cells, even after filtering out larger molecules. This suggests that yeast cells under calorie restriction release a small, transferable “longevity factor”—distinct from NA or NR—that helps neighboring cells live longer. These findings highlight how nutrient restriction and NAD+ metabolism can influence not only individual cell aging but also community-level survival in yeast.
Journal
PLoS Biology