Oxidative stress and ageing in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Mutations in the age-1 gene double both the mean and maximum life span of Caenorhabditis elegans. They also result in an age-specific increase of catalase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity levels. The higher superoxide dismutase activity levels in age-1 mutants confer hyperresistance to the superoxide-anion-generating drug paraquat. The rate of superoxide anion production by microsome fractions declines linearly with age in age-1(+) worms, but, after an initial decline, is stabilized at a higher level in senescent age-1 mutant nematodes. These results clearly show that oxidative stress resistance and potential life span are correlated in this organism, and they suggest that the natural product of age-1 either directly or indirectly downregulates the activities of several other genes as a function of age.
Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Systematics, University of Ghent, Belgium.
J R
JR
Vanfleteren
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
D013481:Superoxides; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat