Ageing is associated in females with a decline in the content and activity on the b-c1 complex in skeletal muscle mitochondria.
The activity of cytochrome-c oxidase [E.C. 1.9.3.1] and b-c1 complex [E.C. 1.10.2.2] and the content of cytochromes b, c + c1 and a + a3 in human skeletal muscle mitochondria from orthopaedic patients (108 women and 68 males), of age ranging between 10 and 50 years, have been analyzed. The activity of cytochrome c-oxidase declines with age both in females and males. The activity of b-c1 complex, which in young females is significantly higher than in young males, declines sharply in females, but not in males, with ageing. These results reveal that the content of active b-c1 complex in muscle mitochondria is specifically controlled by female sex hormones.
Boffoli
D
D
Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Chemistry, University of Bari, Italy.
Scacco
S C
SC
Vergari
R
R
Persio
M T
MT
Solarino
G
G
Laforgia
R
R
Papa
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003580:Cytochromes / Q000378:metabolism; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000378:metabolism*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000201:enzymology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D003580:Cytochromes; C027728:heme a; D006418:Heme; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III