Caloric restriction dynamically alters RNA splicing and lipid composition in mouse brains

In a new preprint, researchers analyzed brain tissue from mice subjected to caloric restriction across adulthood to examine gene expression, RNA processing, and lipid profiles. While caloric restriction produced stable gene expression changes across age groups in metabolic and neurotransmission pathways, alternative splicing patterns were dynamic and largely unique to each age. In addition, caloric restriction coordinated changes in cortical lipid abundance across ages, notably increasing levels of lipids with higher degrees of unsaturation. Integrative analysis further revealed associations between specific lipid classes, transcripts, and alternative splicing categories. Together, these findings indicate that caloric restriction modifies alternative RNA processing in a context-specific manner alongside shifts in cortical lipid homeostasis in the aging mouse brain.