Age-related changes of mitochondrial structure and function in Caenorhabditis elegans.
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.
Yasuda
Kayo
K
Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
Ishii
Takamasa
T
Suda
Hitoshi
H
Akatsuka
Akira
A
Hartman
Philip S
PS
Goto
Sataro
S
Miyazawa
Masaki
M
Ishii
Naoaki
N
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
D000838:Anions; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen