title: Increased transcription of mitochondrial genes for Complex I in human platelets during ageing.
abstract: We studied the effect of ageing on the mRNA levels of mitochondria-encoded polypeptides in human platelets. We used quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to investigate the expression of selected cytochrome c oxidase (COX) genes (subunits I and III) and Complex I genes (subunits reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase (ND)1 and (ND)5 in platelets from young and aged healthy subjects. Northern blot analysis confirmed the PCR results. COX I expression is higher than that of COX III in both young and aged platelets. A significant increase of transcripts for Complex I was found during ageing. On the contrary, the mRNA levels of the two COX subunits did not significantly vary during ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry 'G. Moruzzi', University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merlo Pich
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raule
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fagioli
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Faenza
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lenaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I