The effect of isoprenoid side chain length of ubiquinone on life span.
The isoprenoid side chain length of ubiquinone (Q) can have an effect on the life span of mammals. The short living mouse and rat have Q(9), while primates have Q(10) as the major form. Ubiquinones (Qs) having longer hydrophobic tail are likely more imbedded in the mitochondrial inner membrane than the ones having shorter tails. In case of short tail length, ubisemiquinone (Q(*-)) produced during electron transport can be more exposed to the aqueous phase on both sides of the membrane, generate more superoxide radical and damage the neighbouring macromolecules. Considering the inefficient subcellular distribution of exogenous Q, production of transgenic animals synthesizing Qs having longer than 10 isoprenoid units (Q(>10)) can increase their life span.
Olgun
Abdullah
A
Gülhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. aolgun@yahoo.com
Akman
Serif
S
Tezcan
Suayp
S
Kutluay
Turker
T
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D004579:Electron Transport; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D051379:Mice; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D051381:Rats; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014451:Ubiquinone