Amino-acid imbalance explains extension of lifespan by dietary restriction in Drosophila

Abstract

Dietary restriction extends healthy lifespan in diverse organisms but reduces fecundity; this is thought to be because of an adaptive reallocation of nutrients from reproduction to somatic maintenance. Here, the nutrients producing the responses of lifespan and fecundity to dietary restriction in Drosophila are identified. Adding essential amino acids to the dietary restriction condition increased fecundity and decreased lifespan; furthermore, addition of methionine alone rescued fecundity