Identification of aging genes through large-scale analysis

A vector comprising:

• a sequence having a life-span-regulating activity, and encoding a polypeptide that has at least about 40% sequence similarity to at least one sequence for a gene indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof;
• and
• a promoter operably-linked to the sequence.

A compound that increases a life span of a host, the compound comprising an oligonucleotide that interacts with a gene having at least about 40% sequence similarity to at least one at least one sequence for a gene indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof, or a gene having at least 70% sequence similarity to the sequences for at least one of the genes indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof.

An antibody that increases a life span of a host, the antibody comprising:

• an antigen-binding domain that reacts with a polypeptide having at least about 40% sequence similarity to at least one sequence for a gene indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof;
• and
• a constant region.

A ribozyme that increases a life span of a host, the ribozyme comprising a sub-sequence that is complementary to a target molecule encoded by a gene having at least about 40% sequence similarity to at least one sequence for a gene indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof.

A non-human transgenic animal that exhibits a life span longer than a non-transgenic reference animal, and that has a genome comprising an inactivated or suppressed endogenous gene having at least about 40% sequence similarity to at least one sequence for a gene indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof, or a gene having at least about 70% sequence similarity to at least one sequence for a gene indicated in Table 5 or ortholog thereof.

A method of evaluating the effect of a replicative life span bioactive agent comprising:

• a) administering the bioactive agent to a mammal;
• b) removing a cell sample from the mammal;
• and c) determining the expression profile of the cell sample.

An array of probes, comprising a support bearing a plurality of nucleic acid probes complementary to a plurality of mRNAs fewer than 1000 in number, wherein the plurality of mRNA probes includes an mRNA expressed by at least one BRE5, FOB1, IDH2, REI1. ROM2, RPL31A, RPL6B, TOR1, YBR238C, YBR255W, YBR266C, YOR135C, SCH9, or URE2 gene, or ortholog thereof.

A biochip comprising one or more nucleic acid segments encoding the genes as shown in Table 5 or ortholog thereof, or a fragment thereof, wherein the biochip comprises fewer than 1000 nucleic acid probes.

A replicative life span nucleic acid having a sequence at least 95% homologous to a sequence of a nucleic acid of Table 5 or ortholog thereof, or its complement.