To aid our understanding of the ageing process and its connection to epigenetics I used a non-biased approach to uncover novel chromatin factors affecting life span in C. elegans. To date, there is some evidence that aged organisms and cells display particular epigenetic marks, however, the mechanism by which chromatin is modified and the biological significance of such modifications as we age is unclear. I performed an RNAi screen for longevity using a chromatinome library and assessed the accumulation of lipofuscin as a biomarker of ageing. Preliminary results are encouraging, with 16 'confident hits' (where lipofuscin accumulation is significantly delayed on both days of screening) and a further 28 genes under investigation. The validity of the screening approach is confirmed by matching several of the hits to factors that have previously been associated with lengthening lifespan in model organisms (e.g.
mes-2, T26A5.8, F21H12.1). A further secondary screen with a simple lifespan assay is being undertaken to select genes of particular interest.