The link was discovered in C. elegans, a tiny roundworm which is often used in this kind of research. Scientists from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah were looking at a gene called TOR. It's classed as a longevity gene by some, and is known to regulate cell growth and play a role in the oncogenesis of some cancers. When researchers studied a loss of this gene in some roundworms they noticed that the aging process was slowed down, but this also depended on the gene's relationship with another gene known as pha4/FoxA.
Food was also important in this relationship. When calories are plenty TOR is active, which decreases the activity of pha4/Fox A and this led to a shorter C.elegans lifespan. However, when calories were restricted, TOR activity was low and this increased the activity of pha4/FoxA, slowing down the aging process.
