HUMAN AND NEMATODE HOMOLOGUES OF THE YEAST LONGEVITY ASSURANCE GENE LAG1

摘要

The present invention is directed to human and nematode LAG1 nucleic acids and the polypeptides encoded and expressed thereby, including appropriate vectors and host cells. The present invention contemplates antisense RNA and DNA. This invention further provides methods for increasing the longevity and the tolerance to stress of eukaryotic cells by providing to the cell human and nematode LAG1 polypeptides. Methods for providing the cell with such LAG1 polypeptides include overexpressing the endogenous LAG1 gene, or providing the cell with an expression vector containing the appropriate LAG1 coding region. Such methods can be practiced, for example in mammalian cells, such as human cells. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions to effect such methods.