Pasyukova Elena Genrikhovna | Institute of Molecular Genetics
Academic degree:
Doctor of Biological Sciences
Academic title:
Professor
Division of IMG:
Laboratory of genomic variability
Position:
Head of Laboratory
Telephone:
+7-499-196-19-09
Е-mail: Resume (CV): |
Main research interests
Since 1997, the main goal of my research was to reveal genes affecting lifespan and to analyze molecular basis of their effects on lifespan variation in Drosophila melanogaster. Genome-wide screens conducted in my lab in collaboration with Trudy Mackay’s lab (North Carolina State University, USA) allowed us to reveal several dozens of candidate genes, whose participation in the lifespan control was not previously known. We selected several of these candidate genes to further assess molecular basis of their impact on longevity. This research was carried out along the four main lines.
The first line of my work was aimed to get formal proofs of involvement of the above mentioned candidate genes in lifespan control. We were the first do demonstrate that genes encoding transcription factors involved in neuroblast differentiation and neuron specification affect Drosophila lifespan and identified mutations in these genes that increased longevity by up to 70 percent.
The second line of my work was aimed to understand whether there is an association between gene expression and the effects on lifespan and to describe gene by gene interactions on the level of transcription and longevity phenotype. We were the first to demonstrate that embryonic transcription of genes encoding transcription factors affects lifespan of adults.
The third line of my work was aimed to assess structural and functional variation of genes encoding neuronal transcription factors and involved in lifespan control in natural populations of Drosophila. We succeeded to demonstrate that a naturally occurring polymorphism at the regulatory regions of neuronal genes is able to provide both a six-fold change in gene transcription and a 25% change in lifespan.
The fourth line of my work was aimed to develop a Drosophila model of tauopathies based on the overexpression of GSK3-β, a protein kinase involved in various biological processes including neuroblast differentiation. GSK3-β affects neuronal function, in particular, directly phosphorylates tau. We demonstrated that the level of expression of the gene encoding GSK3-β affects synaptic activity, behavior and lifespan.
In addition, substantial part of my work was dedicated to the study of the effects of various chemical agents (such as antioxidants and inhibitors of protein kinases and hystone deacetilases) on the lifespan and aging in Drosophila.
The first line of my work was aimed to get formal proofs of involvement of the above mentioned candidate genes in lifespan control. We were the first do demonstrate that genes encoding transcription factors involved in neuroblast differentiation and neuron specification affect Drosophila lifespan and identified mutations in these genes that increased longevity by up to 70 percent.
The second line of my work was aimed to understand whether there is an association between gene expression and the effects on lifespan and to describe gene by gene interactions on the level of transcription and longevity phenotype. We were the first to demonstrate that embryonic transcription of genes encoding transcription factors affects lifespan of adults.
The third line of my work was aimed to assess structural and functional variation of genes encoding neuronal transcription factors and involved in lifespan control in natural populations of Drosophila. We succeeded to demonstrate that a naturally occurring polymorphism at the regulatory regions of neuronal genes is able to provide both a six-fold change in gene transcription and a 25% change in lifespan.
The fourth line of my work was aimed to develop a Drosophila model of tauopathies based on the overexpression of GSK3-β, a protein kinase involved in various biological processes including neuroblast differentiation. GSK3-β affects neuronal function, in particular, directly phosphorylates tau. We demonstrated that the level of expression of the gene encoding GSK3-β affects synaptic activity, behavior and lifespan.
In addition, substantial part of my work was dedicated to the study of the effects of various chemical agents (such as antioxidants and inhibitors of protein kinases and hystone deacetilases) on the lifespan and aging in Drosophila.
Teaching activities
Invited Lecturer, “Population Genetics”, Department of Genetics, Biological College of Lomonosov’s Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia (2006 - present).
Supervisor of 5 candidate theses.
Awards, achievements, memberships
Russian Federation State Award in Science and Technology (2002).
Editorial Board, International Journal of Genomics (2011 – present), Associate Editor, Frontiers in Genetics of Aging (2012 – present).
Publications
1. Nuzhdin, S. V., Pasyukova, E. G., Dilda, C. L., Zeng, Z.-B., and Mackay, T. F. C. 1997. Sex-specific quantitative trait loci affecting longevity in Drosophiala melanogaster. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94:9734-9739.
2. Vieira, C., Pasyukova, E. G., Zeng, Z.-B., Hackett, J. B., Lyman, R. F., and Mackay, T. F. C. 2000. Genotype-environment interaction for quantitative trait loci affecting lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics, 154:213-227.
3. Pasyukova, E. G., Vieira, C., and Mackay, T. F. C. 2000. Deficiency mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics, 156:1129-1146.
4. De Luca, M., Roshina, N. V., Geiger-Thornsberry, G. L., Lyman, R. F., Pasyukova, E. G., and Mackay T. F. C. 2003. Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) affects variation in Drosophila longevity. Nat. Genet., 34:429-33.
5. Pasyukova E. G., Roshina N. V., and Mackay T. F. C. 2004. Shuttle craft: a candidate quantitative trait gene for Drosophila lifespan. Aging Cell, 3:297-307.
6. Mackay T.F.C., Roshina N.V., Leips J.W., Pasyukova E.G. 2005. Complex genetic architecture of Drosophila longevity. Handbook on the Biology of Ageing, Ed. Masoro E., Austad S., 6:181-216.
7. Skulachev V. P., Anisimov V. N., Antonenko Y. N., Bakeeva L. E., Chernyak B. V., Erichev V. P., Filenko O. F., Kalinina N. I., Kapelko V. I., Kolosova N. G., Kopnin B. P., Korshunova G. A., Lichinitser M. R., Obukhova L. A., Pasuykova E. G., Pisarenko O. I., Roginsky V. A., Ruuge E. K., Senin I. I., Severina I. I., Skulachev M. V., Spivak I. M., Tashlitsky V. N., Tkachuk V. A., Vyssokikh M. Yu., Yaguzhinsky L. S., Zorov D. B. 2009. An attempt to prevent senescence: a mitochondrial approach. BBA Bioenergetics, 1787:437-461.
8. Magwire M. M., Yamamoto A., Carbone M. A., Roshina N.V., Symonenko A.V., Pasyukova E. G., Morozova T. V., Mackay T. F. C. 2010. Quantitative and molecular genetic analyses of mutations increasing Drosophila life span. PLoS Genet., 6(7): e1001037.
9. Rybina O. Y., Pasyukova E. G. 2010. A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan. PLoS ONE, 5(9): e12621.
10. Vaiserman A. M., Pasyukova E.G. Epigenetic drugs: a novel anti-aging strategy? 2012. Front. Genet., 3:#224.
11. Krementsova A. V. , Roshina N. V., Tsybul’ko E. A., Rybina O. Y., Symonenko A. V., Pasyukova E. G. 2012. Reproducible effects of the mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivative SkQ1 on Drosophila melanogaster lifespan under different experimental scenarios. Biogerontology, 13:595–607.
12. Alcedo J., Flatt T., Pasyukova E. G. 2013. Neuronal inputs and outputs of aging and longevity. Front. Genet., 4:#71.
13. Roshina N. V., Symonenko A. V., Krementsova A. V., Trostnikov M. V., Pasyukova E. G. 2014. Embryonic expression of shuttle craft, a Drosophila gene involved in neuron development, is associated with adult lifespan. Aging (Albany NY) 6:1076-1093.
14. Pasyukova E. G., Symonenko A. V., Roshina N. V., Trostnikov M. V., Veselkina E. R., Rybina O. Y. 2015. Neuronal genes and developmental neuronal pathways in Drosophila lifespan control. In: Life Extension, Healthy Ageing and Longevity 3, Life Extension: Lessons from Drosophila, Vaiserman A. M. et al. (eds.), Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, P. 3-37.
2. Vieira, C., Pasyukova, E. G., Zeng, Z.-B., Hackett, J. B., Lyman, R. F., and Mackay, T. F. C. 2000. Genotype-environment interaction for quantitative trait loci affecting lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics, 154:213-227.
3. Pasyukova, E. G., Vieira, C., and Mackay, T. F. C. 2000. Deficiency mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics, 156:1129-1146.
4. De Luca, M., Roshina, N. V., Geiger-Thornsberry, G. L., Lyman, R. F., Pasyukova, E. G., and Mackay T. F. C. 2003. Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) affects variation in Drosophila longevity. Nat. Genet., 34:429-33.
5. Pasyukova E. G., Roshina N. V., and Mackay T. F. C. 2004. Shuttle craft: a candidate quantitative trait gene for Drosophila lifespan. Aging Cell, 3:297-307.
6. Mackay T.F.C., Roshina N.V., Leips J.W., Pasyukova E.G. 2005. Complex genetic architecture of Drosophila longevity. Handbook on the Biology of Ageing, Ed. Masoro E., Austad S., 6:181-216.
7. Skulachev V. P., Anisimov V. N., Antonenko Y. N., Bakeeva L. E., Chernyak B. V., Erichev V. P., Filenko O. F., Kalinina N. I., Kapelko V. I., Kolosova N. G., Kopnin B. P., Korshunova G. A., Lichinitser M. R., Obukhova L. A., Pasuykova E. G., Pisarenko O. I., Roginsky V. A., Ruuge E. K., Senin I. I., Severina I. I., Skulachev M. V., Spivak I. M., Tashlitsky V. N., Tkachuk V. A., Vyssokikh M. Yu., Yaguzhinsky L. S., Zorov D. B. 2009. An attempt to prevent senescence: a mitochondrial approach. BBA Bioenergetics, 1787:437-461.
8. Magwire M. M., Yamamoto A., Carbone M. A., Roshina N.V., Symonenko A.V., Pasyukova E. G., Morozova T. V., Mackay T. F. C. 2010. Quantitative and molecular genetic analyses of mutations increasing Drosophila life span. PLoS Genet., 6(7): e1001037.
9. Rybina O. Y., Pasyukova E. G. 2010. A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan. PLoS ONE, 5(9): e12621.
10. Vaiserman A. M., Pasyukova E.G. Epigenetic drugs: a novel anti-aging strategy? 2012. Front. Genet., 3:#224.
11. Krementsova A. V. , Roshina N. V., Tsybul’ko E. A., Rybina O. Y., Symonenko A. V., Pasyukova E. G. 2012. Reproducible effects of the mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivative SkQ1 on Drosophila melanogaster lifespan under different experimental scenarios. Biogerontology, 13:595–607.
12. Alcedo J., Flatt T., Pasyukova E. G. 2013. Neuronal inputs and outputs of aging and longevity. Front. Genet., 4:#71.
13. Roshina N. V., Symonenko A. V., Krementsova A. V., Trostnikov M. V., Pasyukova E. G. 2014. Embryonic expression of shuttle craft, a Drosophila gene involved in neuron development, is associated with adult lifespan. Aging (Albany NY) 6:1076-1093.
14. Pasyukova E. G., Symonenko A. V., Roshina N. V., Trostnikov M. V., Veselkina E. R., Rybina O. Y. 2015. Neuronal genes and developmental neuronal pathways in Drosophila lifespan control. In: Life Extension, Healthy Ageing and Longevity 3, Life Extension: Lessons from Drosophila, Vaiserman A. M. et al. (eds.), Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, P. 3-37.