The Human Ageing Genomic Resources: online databases and tools for biogerontologists

Abstract

SummaryAging is a complex, challenging phenomenon that requires multiple, interdisciplinary approaches to unravel its puzzles. To assist basic research on aging, we developed the Human Ageing Genomic Resources (HAGR). This work provides an overview of the databases and tools in HAGR and describes how the gerontology research community can employ them. Several recent changes and improvements to HAGR are also presented. The two centrepieces in HAGR are GenAge and AnAge. GenAge is a gene database featuring genes associated with aging and longevity in model organisms, a curated database of genes potentially associated with human aging, and a list of genes tested for their association with human longevity. A myriad of biological data and information is included for hundreds of genes, making GenAge a reference for research that reflects our current understanding of the genetic basis of aging. GenAge can also serve as a platform for the systems biology of aging, and tools for the visualization of protein-protein interactions are also included. AnAge is a database of aging in animals, featuring over 4000 species, primarily assembled as a resource for comparative and evolutionary studies of aging. Longevity records, developmental and reproductive traits, taxonomic information, basic metabolic characteristics, and key observations related to aging are included in AnAge. Software is also available to aid researchers in the form of Perl modules to automate numerous tasks and as an SPSS script to analyse demographic mortality data. The HAGR are available online at http://genomics.senescence.info.

Genome-Environment Interactions That Modulate Aging: Powerful Targets for Drug Discovery

“…Dozens of genes have now been associated with human longevity (de Magalhã es et al, 2009a), although only a handful of genes have been shown to have consistent effects across populations.…”

“…Hundreds of genes that modulate longevity have now been identified in model organisms (de Magalhã es et al, 2009a). In some cases (e.g., in worms), mutations in single genes can extend lifespan by almost 10-fold (Ayyadevara et al, 2008).…”

Accelerated protein evolution analysis reveals genes and pathways associated with the evolution of mammalian longevity

“…After this scan, 15,312 proteins had at least one other ortholog. Aging-related proteins based on findings from model organisms were obtained from the GenAge database of de Magalhães et al (2009a).…”

Co-regulation of polar mRNA transport and lifespan in budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae

“…By comparing the two sets of genes, LAGs 20 and polarity-associated genes, 10 we selected eight candidates, with potential relevance to polar mRNA transport. The selected genes were reported to be involved in budding or mating processes, establishment of cell polarity and RNA binding ( Table 1).…”