Dietary restriction (DR), the reduction in food intake without causing malnutrition, is an effective way to promote longevity in a wide range of species. Similar to many other mediators of longevity, DR not only extends an organism’s lifespan but also decreases the incidence of age-related diseases and promotes health span as well. However, the relevant regulatory mechanisms are still unclear.
    The Chinese researcher revealed the temporal regulation of microRNAs in the reproductive signal-mediated longevity model. MicroRNAs are a class of small-molecule non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression primarily through base pairing and play an important role in many biological processes.
    The latest research shows that DR does not open the mir-235 molecular switch during the development of the nematode. In the adult stage, the “diet restriction” quickly turns on the mir-235 molecular switch and inhibits cwn-1/WNT4, thereby increasing the level of autophagy and prolonging the lifespan of nematodes.
    The study first showed that signaling pathways are important in life regulation and in further understanding of aging. Secondly, this time-series regulation prolongs lifespan while ensuring normal development, revealing a subtle regulation of the body. And it suggests that the same intervention produces different effects at different developmental stages or ages of the animal. It has important guiding significance for anti-aging research.