Wednesday, April 21, 2010

How specific odours alter an organism's lifespan

Specific odours that represent food or indicate danger trigger a small number of highly specialised sensory neurons that can alter an animal's lifespan and physiological profile, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, University of Houston, and Baylor College of Medicine.



However, the specific odours and sensory receptors that control this effect on aging were unknown.

The researchers used molecular genetics in combination with behavioural and environmental manipulations, and successfully identified carbon dioxide (CO2) as the first well-defined odorant capable of altering physiology and affecting aging.


They are also resistant to stress and have increased body fat. To many insects, including fruit flies, CO2 represents an ecologically important odour cue that indicates the presence of food (eg rotting fruit or animal blood) or neighbours in distress (it has been implicated as a stress pheromone).


They now establish that CO2 is responsible for this effect.





The study has been published in the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.

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