Mitochondrial mutations differentially affect aging, mutability and anesthetic sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans.
In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations have been previously isolated that affect the activities of Complex I (gas-1) and Complex II (mev-1), two of the five membrane-bound complexes that control electron flow in mitochondrial respiration. We compared the effects of gas-1 and mev-1 mutations on different traits influenced by mitochondrial function. Mutations in Complex I and II both increased sensitivity to free radicals as measured during development and in aging animals. However, gas-1 and mev-1 mutations differentially affected mutability and anesthetic sensitivity. Specifically, gas-1 was anesthetic hypersensitive but not hypermutable while mev-1 was hypermutable but displayed normal responses to anesthetics. These results indicate that Complexes I and II may differ in their effects on behavior and development, and are consistent with the wide variation in phenotypes that result from mitochondrial changes in other organisms.
Hartman
P S
PS
Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
Ishii
N
N
Kayser
E B
EB
Morgan
P G
PG
Sedensky
M M
MM
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D007530:Isoflurane; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D006221:Halothane