Pankaj Kapahi
Shows that dialing down TOR signaling extends lifespan and pins down the translation-control switch that makes dietary restriction work
PhD, Univ. of Manchester (T. Kirkwood) · postdoc, UC San Diego (M. Karin) · postdoc, Caltech (S. Benzer) · Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Kapahi Lab, Buck Institute for Research on Aging ↗ Bluesky@pkapahi.bsky.social ↗
Portrait: Buck Institute for Research on Aging
In Benzer's lab (KAP2004), showed genetically reducing TOR pathway activity (via TSC1/TSC2, TOR, S6K) extends fly lifespan, overlapping mechanistically with dietary restriction. In 2009 (ZID2009), closed the loop: dietary restriction lowers TOR, freeing 4E-BP to selectively boost mitochondrial gene translation — required, not just correlated, for the lifespan extension.
Nathan Shock New Investigator Award (2010), NIA EUREKA Award (2010), Julie Martin Mid-Career Award (2011), Glenn Award (2015). Distinct from fellow Buck researcher Brian Kennedy.
Milestones in the Atlas
| Year | Evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | A | Regulation of lifespan in Drosophila by modulation of genes in the TOR signaling pathway KAP2004 Genetically dialing down TOR in Drosophila extends lifespan, overlapping with dietary restriction. |
| 2009 | A | 4E-BP extends lifespan upon dietary restriction by enhancing mitochondrial activity in Drosophila ZID2009 Dietary restriction lowers TOR, freeing 4E-BP to boost mitochondrial translation, required for lifespan extension. |