Cynthia Kenyon
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Jane Kenyon is an American
molecular biologist and biogerontologist known for her genetic dissection of aging in a tiny worm, Caenorhabditis elegans
.
in 1976. She received her PhD in 1981 from MIT where, in Graham Walker's laboratory, she was the first to look for genes on the basis of their activity profiles, discovering that DNA
-damaging agents activate a battery of DNA repair
genes in E. coli. She then did postdoctoral studies with Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner
at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, studying the development of C. elegans.
Since 1986 she has been at the University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF), where she was the Herbert Boyer
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics and is now an American Cancer Society
Professor.
Her early work led to the discovery that Hox genes, which were known to pattern the body segments of the fruit fly Drosophila
, also pattern the body of C. elegans. These findings demonstrated that Hox genes were not simply involved in segmentation, as thought, but instead were part of a much more ancient and fundamental metazoan patterning system.
Although it was already known from the work of M. Klass that lifespan of C. elegans could be altered by mutations, in 1993, Dr. Kenyon's discovery that a single-gene mutation (Daf-2
) could double the lifespan of C. elegans and that this could be reversed by a second mutation in daf-16m
, sparked an intensive study of the molecular biology of aging. Dr. Kenyon's findings have led to the discovery that an evolutionarily-conserved hormone signaling system influences aging in other organisms, perhaps also including mammals.
Kenyon has received many honors, including the King Faisal Prize for Medicine, the American Association of Medical Colleges Award for Distinguished Research, the Ilse & Helmut Wachter Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, and La Fondation IPSEN Prize, for her findings. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
. She is now the director of the Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging at UCSF. She is also one of featured biologists in the 1995 science documentary
Death by Design / The Life and Times of Life and Times.
carbohydrates when she discovered that putting sugar on the worms'
food shortened their lifespans.
Kenyon follows a low glycemic index diet similar to the Atkins diet and the South Beach Diet
.
In the past, Kenyon had also briefly experimented with a calorie restriction
diet for two days, but couldn't stand the constant hunger.
"She is going to kill this cell with a laser, so she hit it right there. You can see—yes, it's starting to look different. So she's killing it. So these are cells that we know control lifespan. So when she kills the cell, the worm will live longer.
The reason that these animals can stay young longer is that they're better able to protect themselves against damage and they're better able to repair the damage once it's taken place.
If you're 80, but you're really like a 45-year-old, if you look like a 45-year-old, I mean, you're not just healthy, but you are young, then you're not going to be susceptible to these diseases until much later.
The company she founded, Elixir Pharmaceuticals, is trying to make a pill that would slow down the process that makes people age. It would mimic gene manipulation.
And then all these diseases of aging are postponed by this pill. So how realistic is this? We already know that this can happen in these long-lived animals. We see it. It's amazing."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
molecular biologist and biogerontologist known for her genetic dissection of aging in a tiny worm, Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living, transparent nematode , about 1 mm in length, which lives in temperate soil environments. Research into the molecular and developmental biology of C. elegans was begun in 1974 by Sydney Brenner and it has since been used extensively as a model...
.
Career
Cynthia Kenyon graduated valedictorian in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1976. She received her PhD in 1981 from MIT where, in Graham Walker's laboratory, she was the first to look for genes on the basis of their activity profiles, discovering that DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
-damaging agents activate a battery of DNA repair
DNA repair
DNA repair refers to a collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome. In human cells, both normal metabolic activities and environmental factors such as UV light and radiation can cause DNA damage, resulting in as many as 1...
genes in E. coli. She then did postdoctoral studies with Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner, CH FRS is a South African biologist and a 2002 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate, shared with H...
at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, studying the development of C. elegans.
Since 1986 she has been at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
(UCSF), where she was the Herbert Boyer
Herbert Boyer
Herbert W. Boyer is a recipient of the 1990 National Medal of Science, co-recipient of the 1996 Lemelson-MIT Prize, and a co-founder of Genentech. He served as Vice President of Genentech from 1976 through his retirement in 1991....
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics and is now an American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
Professor.
Her early work led to the discovery that Hox genes, which were known to pattern the body segments of the fruit fly Drosophila
Drosophila
Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" or more appropriately pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit...
, also pattern the body of C. elegans. These findings demonstrated that Hox genes were not simply involved in segmentation, as thought, but instead were part of a much more ancient and fundamental metazoan patterning system.
Although it was already known from the work of M. Klass that lifespan of C. elegans could be altered by mutations, in 1993, Dr. Kenyon's discovery that a single-gene mutation (Daf-2
Daf-2
The daf-2 gene encodes an insulin-like receptor in the worm C. elegans. Mutations in daf-2 have been shown by Cynthia Kenyon to double the lifespan of the worms...
) could double the lifespan of C. elegans and that this could be reversed by a second mutation in daf-16m
Daf-16
DAF-16 is part of a group of genes that drive the biological processes involved in ageing, immunity and responses to physical or environmental stresses...
, sparked an intensive study of the molecular biology of aging. Dr. Kenyon's findings have led to the discovery that an evolutionarily-conserved hormone signaling system influences aging in other organisms, perhaps also including mammals.
Kenyon has received many honors, including the King Faisal Prize for Medicine, the American Association of Medical Colleges Award for Distinguished Research, the Ilse & Helmut Wachter Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, and La Fondation IPSEN Prize, for her findings. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
. She is now the director of the Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging at UCSF. She is also one of featured biologists in the 1995 science documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
Death by Design / The Life and Times of Life and Times.
Personal diet
Kenyon's research prompted her to make personal dietary changes. She stopped eating high glycemic indexGlycemic index
The glycemic index, glycaemic index, or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more...
carbohydrates when she discovered that putting sugar on the worms'
food shortened their lifespans.
Kenyon follows a low glycemic index diet similar to the Atkins diet and the South Beach Diet
South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet is a diet plan designed by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietician Marie Almon as an alternative to low-fat approaches such as the Ornish Diet and the Pritikin Diet advocated by the American Heart Association in the 1980s. Although the original purpose of the diet was to...
.
In the past, Kenyon had also briefly experimented with a calorie restriction
Calorie restriction
Caloric restriction , or calorie restriction, is a dietary regimen that restricts calorie intake, where the baseline for the restriction varies, usually being the previous, unrestricted, intake of the subjects...
diet for two days, but couldn't stand the constant hunger.
Gene manipulation
Kenyon's lab is focusing on extending life by killing part of a specific worm cell."She is going to kill this cell with a laser, so she hit it right there. You can see—yes, it's starting to look different. So she's killing it. So these are cells that we know control lifespan. So when she kills the cell, the worm will live longer.
The reason that these animals can stay young longer is that they're better able to protect themselves against damage and they're better able to repair the damage once it's taken place.
If you're 80, but you're really like a 45-year-old, if you look like a 45-year-old, I mean, you're not just healthy, but you are young, then you're not going to be susceptible to these diseases until much later.
The company she founded, Elixir Pharmaceuticals, is trying to make a pill that would slow down the process that makes people age. It would mimic gene manipulation.
And then all these diseases of aging are postponed by this pill. So how realistic is this? We already know that this can happen in these long-lived animals. We see it. It's amazing."
External links
- NIH Profile: Cynthia Kenyon, Ph.D.
- Basic Research: Cynthia Kenyon by Steven Kotler in Discover, vol. 25, no. 11, 2004
- Kenyon Lab at UCSF
- Cynthia Kenyon's iBioSeminar, a two part seminar in which Kenyon discusses her research.
- Elixir Pharmaceuticals
- In Methuselah's Mould, an open-access interview discussing Kenyon's research and her personal low carb diet.