Purification and characterization of a protein associated with genetically-determined longevity difference in Drosophila melanogaster.
Earlier studies have shown a correlation between the presence of a 77 kDa protein in the proteins extracted from young adult Drosophila melanogaster (D.m.) and the autosomal longevity allele. A2 at the JmA locus. In this study, a 77 kDa protein has been isolated from pupae of D.m. of a long-lived strain of genotype A2A2, and was purified by DEAE chromatography, ConA column chromatography, and two cycles of gel filtration. The purified protein has a molecular weight of 76,600 (by SDS-PAGE), an isoelectric point of pH 6.5, and molar extinction coefficient A(280(1%) = 18.3. It is a glycoprotein containing 3.3% hexose. Supplementing the food of D.m. with the purified protein at 5 x 10(-4) micrograms/ml, beginning at day 5 after emergence, resulted in an increase in the survival rate and maximal life span of both short-lived and long-lived strains of D.m.
Okano
A
A
Department of Lipid Biochemistry, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Yonemura
I
I
Shimizu
Y
Y
Yanagidaira
Y
Y
Hasekura
H
H
Boettcher
B
B
D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007178:Inbreeding; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D011506:Proteins