Avian Lifespan Network Reveals Shared Mechanisms and New Key Players in Animal Longevity

Abstract

Lifespan is a highly variable life trait across the Tree of Life, governed by complex and multifactorial mechanisms. While some conserved pathways regulating longevity have been identified in various species, the molecular basis of this phenotype is far from being understood. In this context, the adoption of new model species and methods of investigation may offer opportunities to explore the molecular underpinnings of longevity in animals. In this study, we investigated the genomic resources of 141 birds to analyze the molecular evolution underlying extremely long- and short lifespans. We show that birds with similar lifespans exhibit convergent evolution in specific genes regardless of body mass and phylogenetic relationship, enabling the construction of a “lifespan network” of protein–protein interactions. This network highlights the interplay between metabolism and cell cycle control as key processes in avian lifespan regulation. This lifespan network not only provides evidence for shared mechanisms of lifespan regulation across different organisms but also enables the identification of new candidates for studying aging, particularly in humans. By integrating multiple evolutionary signals from both extremes of the lifespan distribution, our results show the power of evolutionary and comparative approaches in studying complex traits like longevity, providing new insights into aging research.