DNA methylation rates scale with maximum lifespan across mammals

Crofts, S. J.C., Latorre Crespo, E. and Chandra, T. (2023) DNA methylation rates scale with maximum lifespan across mammals. Nature Aging, 4, pp. 27-32. (doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00535-6) (PMID:38049585) (PMCID:PMC10798888)

Abstract

DNA methylation rates have previously been found to broadly correlate with maximum lifespan in mammals, yet no precise relationship has been observed. We developed a statistically robust framework to compare methylation rates at conserved age-related sites across mammals. We found that methylation rates negatively scale with maximum lifespan in both blood and skin. The emergence of explicit scaling suggests that methylation rates are, or are linked to, an evolutionary constraint on maximum lifespan acting across diverse mammalian lineages.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: S.J.C.C. is supported by the Wellcome Trust Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health Programme (grant number grant.226831/Z/22/Z). E.L.-C. is a cross-disciplinary postdoctoral fellow supported by funding from the University of Edinburgh and the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00009/2). T.C. is supported through a Chancellor’s Fellow award at the University of Edinburgh and the MRC Human Genetics Unit.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Latorre Crespo, Dr Eric

Creator Roles

Latorre Crespo, E.: Conceptualization, Supervision, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft

• Authors: Crofts, S. J.C., Latorre Crespo, E., and Chandra, T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Nature Aging
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US
• ISSN: 2662-8465
• ISSN (Online): 2662-8465
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2023
• First Published: First published in Nature Aging 4:27-32
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a creative commons licence