 gas1  mutation extends chronological lifespan via Pmk1 and Sty1 MAPKs in  Schizosaccharomyces pombe .
In the longevity research by using yeasts, chronological lifespan is defined as the survival time after entry into stationary phase. Previously, screening for long lived mutants of  Schizosaccharomyces pombe  was performed to identify the novel factors involved in longevity. From this screening, one long lived mutant called as No.36 was obtained. In this study, we identified the mutation caused in  gas1  + , which encodes glucanosyltransferase ( gas1-287  mutation) is responsible for the longevity of No.36 mutant. Through the analysis of this mutant, we found that cell wall perturbing agent micafungin also extends chronological lifespan in fission yeast. This lifespan extension depended on both Pmk1 and Sty1 MAP kinases, and longevity caused by the  gas1-287  mutation also depended on these kinases. In summary, we propose that the  gas1-287  mutation causes longevity as the similar mechanism as cell wall stress depending on Pmk1 and Sty1 MAPK pathways.
Imai Y, Shimasaki T, Enokimura C, Ohtsuka H, Tsubouchi S, Ihara K, Aiba H