Mutations in TGF-beta signaling pathway components regulate the Drosophila melanogaster lifespan.

The evolutionary conserved transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway participates in the regulation of several cellular functions and tissue homeostasis. In the model Drosophila melanogaster , the two TGF-β signaling pathway branches Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) and Activin are involved in important developmental and immune processes. Here we examine the effect of mutations in various BMP and Activin signaling molecules on the fly lifespan. We find that loss-of-function fly mutants for distinct Activin and BMP components differentially modulate the fly lifespan. These results indicate that the TGF-β signaling pathways act as regulators of lifespan in the adult D. melanogaster .