Abstract:
Maximal lifespan of mammalian species, even if closely related, may differ more than 10-fold,
however the nature of the mechanisms that determine this variability is unresolved. Here, we assess
the relationship between maximal lifespan duration and concentrations of more than 20,000 lipid
compounds, measured in 669 tissue samples from 6 tissues of 35 species representing three mammalian
clades: primates, rodents and bats. We identify lipids associated with species’ longevity across the
three clades, uncoupled from other parameters, such as basal metabolic rate, body size, or body
temperature. These lipids clustered in specific lipid classes and pathways, and enzymes linked to them
display signatures of greater stabilizing selection in long-living species, and cluster in functional groups
related to signaling and protein-modification processes. These findings point towards the existence of
defined molecular mechanisms underlying variation in maximal lifespan among mammals.
