The effects of graded calorie restriction XVII: Multitissue metabolomics reveals synthesis of carnitine and NAD, and tRNA charging as key pathways

The evolutionary context of why caloric restriction (CR) activates physiological mechanisms that slow the process of aging remains unclear. The main goal of this analysis was to identify, using metabolomics, the common pathways that are modulated across multiple tissues (brown adipose tissue, liver, plasma, and brain) to evaluate two alternative evolutionary models: the “disposable soma” and “clean cupboards” ideas. Across the four tissues, we identified more than 10,000 different metabolic features. CR altered the metabolome in a graded fashion. More restriction led to more changes. Most changes, however, were tissue specific, and in some cases, metabolites changed in opposite directions in different tissues. Only 38 common metabolic features responded to restriction in the same way across all four tissues. Fifty percent of the common altered metabolites were carboxylic acids and derivatives, as well as lipids and lipid-like molecules. The top five modulated canonical pathways were L-carnitine biosynthesis, NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) biosynthesis from 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate semi-aldehyde, S-methyl-5′-thioadenosine degradation II, NAD biosynthesis II (from tryptophan), and transfer RNA (tRNA) charging. Although some pathways were modulated in common across tissues, none of these reflected somatic protection, and each tissue invoked its own idiosyncratic modulation of pathways to cope with the reduction in incoming energy. Consequently, this study provides greater support for the clean cupboards hypothesis than the disposable soma interpretation.