The Nothobranchius Project

Our aim is to use Nothobranchius furzeri to study the biochemical pathways that regulate ageing and determine lifespan in vertebrates. Thus, we currently isolate ageing-associated genes from N. furzeri and analyze their expression during ageing. We also want to compare gene expression between N. furzeri that are subject to various life-extending treatments. We furthermore want to manipulate gene expression and determine the effects on lifespan. This shall eventually be done by transgenesis, a method, which we have started to establish in N. furzeri.

Finally and as a shared interest with other members of the Nothobranchius project we want to examine some classical theories of ageing/lifespan determination in the new fish model. In that context we have recently begun to analyse the trade-off between reproductive activity and lifespan.