Starvation can extend the life span of C. elegans by more than threefold. The severe caloric restriction stimulates a nuclear receptor, NHR-49, and causes apoptosis of all germ cells, which is a necessary step for prolonged life. Ghazi et al. show that removing germ cells from C. elegans increases the expression of the transcription elongation factor TCER-1. TCER-1 activates the transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO, which is known to increase longevity in the worm. Although loss of germ cells is typically required to extend life span, overexpression of TCER-1 in worms that still contain normal germ cells is sufficient to increase their longevity. This indicates that TCER-1 is at least part of the signal that causes increased life span after germ cell destruction in C. elegans.

Ghazi A, Henis-Korenblit S, Kenyon C (2009). A transcription elongation factor that links signals from the reproductive system to lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans PloS Genet. 5, e1000639.
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2009