title: Age-related changes of mitochondrial structure and function in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: A number of observations have been made to examine the role that mitochrondrial energetics and superoxide anion production play in the aging of wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans. Ultrastructural analyses reveal the presence of swollen mitochondria, presumably produced by fusion events. Two key mitochondrial functions - the activity of two electron transport chain complexes and oxygen consumption - decreased as animals aged. Carbonylated proteins, one byproduct of oxidative stress, accumulated in mitochondria much more than in the cytoplasm. This is consistent with the notion that mitochondria are the primary source of endogenous reactive oxygen species. However, the level of mitochondrially generated superoxide anion did not change significantly during aging, suggesting that the accumulation of oxidative damage is not due to excessive production of superoxide anion in geriatric animals. In concert, these data support the notion that the mitochondrial function is an important aging determinant in wild-type C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Takamasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akatsuka
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Sataro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D004583:Electrons; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen