Autophagy and longevity: Lessons from C. elegans

Aging is a process in which individuals undergo an exponential decline in vitality, leading to death. In the last two decades, the study of the molecular regulation of aging in model organisms, particularly in C. elegans, has greatly expanded our knowledge of aging. Multiple longevity pathways, such as insulin-like growth factor signaling, TOR signaling, dietary restriction and mitochondrial activity, control aging in C. elegans. Recent genetic studies indicate that autophagy, an evolutionary conserved lysosomal degradation pathway, interacts with various longevity signals in the regulation of C. elegans life span. Here, we review the current progress in understanding the role of autophagy in the regulation of C. elegans life span.