daf-7
C. elegans
Dauer larva development regulatory growth factor daf-7
What the model saw
Gene: daf-7 Organism: Caenorhabditis elegans Known functions: Dauer larva development regulatory growth factor daf-7. cytokine activity. growth factor activity. transforming growth factor beta receptor binding.
View unredacted entry
Dauer larva development regulatory growth factor daf-7. cytokine activity. growth factor activity. transforming growth factor beta receptor binding.
Solver output
DAF-7 is a TGF-β ligand that signals through the DAF-1/DAF-4 receptor complex to activate SMAD transcription factors (DAF-8/DAF-14), which in turn repress DAF-3/DAF-5 and suppress dauer formation. By inhibiting dauer entry, DAF-7 signaling promotes reproductive growth under favorable conditions and suppresses the longevity-associated dauer developmental program. Loss of daf-7 function leads to constitutive dauer formation and extended lifespan, while high DAF-7 activity keeps animals in the reproductive adult state with normal (shorter) lifespan. This TGF-β branch intersects with nutrient-sensing pathways (including the insulin/IGF-1 pathway via DAF-16) to coordinate metabolic state and longevity decisions. Thus, the normal pro-growth, anti-dauer function of DAF-7 opposes longevity.
GenAge curators classify each gene's normal function as promoting (Pro-Longevity) or opposing (Anti-Longevity) longevity, based on synthesis across studies. Loss-of-function effects can vary from this depending on the manipulation.
Advisor judgment
The model correctly identified DAF-7 as anti_longevity with high confidence (0.88). The mechanistic reasoning is accurate and detailed: DAF-7 is indeed a TGF-β ligand that suppresses dauer formation, and loss-of-function mutations lead to constitutive dauer formation and extended lifespan. The model correctly describes the signaling cascade (DAF-1/DAF-4 receptors, DAF-8/DAF-14 SMADs, DAF-3/DAF-5 repression) and the intersection with insulin/IGF-1 pathway. The only minor note is that the mechanism_class "deregulated_nutrient_sensing" is a reasonable but slightly imprecise label — TGF-β/dauer signaling is more directly a developmental/stress-response pathway than nutrient sensing per se, though they do intersect. Overall, this is an excellent prediction with solid mechanistic understanding.
Raw API responses
solver
{
"reasoning": "DAF-7 is a TGF-β ligand that signals through the DAF-1/DAF-4 receptor complex to activate SMAD transcription factors (DAF-8/DAF-14), which in turn repress DAF-3/DAF-5 and suppress dauer formation. By inhibiting dauer entry, DAF-7 signaling promotes reproductive growth under favorable conditions and suppresses the longevity-associated dauer developmental program. Loss of daf-7 function leads to constitutive dauer formation and extended lifespan, while high DAF-7 activity keeps animals in the reproductive adult state with normal (shorter) lifespan. This TGF-β branch intersects with nutrient-sensing pathways (including the insulin/IGF-1 pathway via DAF-16) to coordinate metabolic state and longevity decisions. Thus, the normal pro-growth, anti-dauer function of DAF-7 opposes longevity.",
"confidence": 0.88,
"key_pathways": [
"TGF-β/DAF-7 signaling pathway",
"Dauer formation and longevity regulation",
"DAF-3/DAF-16 transcription factor network"
],
"mechanism_class": "deregulated_nutrient_sensing",
"longevity_influence": "anti_longevity"
}advisor
{
"notes": "The model correctly identified DAF-7 as anti_longevity with high confidence (0.88). The mechanistic reasoning is accurate and detailed: DAF-7 is indeed a TGF-β ligand that suppresses dauer formation, and loss-of-function mutations lead to constitutive dauer formation and extended lifespan. The model correctly describes the signaling cascade (DAF-1/DAF-4 receptors, DAF-8/DAF-14 SMADs, DAF-3/DAF-5 repression) and the intersection with insulin/IGF-1 pathway. The only minor note is that the mechanism_class \"deregulated_nutrient_sensing\" is a reasonable but slightly imprecise label — TGF-β/dauer signaling is more directly a developmental/stress-response pathway than nutrient sensing per se, though they do intersect. Overall, this is an excellent prediction with solid mechanistic understanding.",
"failure_mode": "correct",
"answer_correct": true,
"mechanism_correct": true,
"reasoning_quality": 5,
"ground_truth_questionable": false
}