Increased transcription of mitochondrial genes for Complex I in human platelets during ageing.
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.
Merlo Pich
Milena
M
Department of Biochemistry 'G. Moruzzi', University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Raule
Nicola
N
Catani
Lucia
L
Fagioli
Maria Elena
ME
Faenza
Irene
I
Cocco
Lucio
L
Lenaz
Giorgio
G
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
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I