title: Integration of a pAL2-1 homologous mitochondrial plasmid associated with life span extension in Podospora anserina.
abstract: We isolated and characterized a novel spontaneous longevity mutant of Podospora anserina strain Wa32 carrying one of the pAL2-1 homologous mitochondrial plasmids. This mutant is at least ten fold longer-lived than the wild type, and is hence a formal suppressor of both the regular and the 'plasmid-based' senescence process. We show that the longevity trait is maternally inherited and coincides with the presence of a copy of the plasmid integrated in the 5' UTR of the mitochondrial Complex I genes nd2 and nd3. This mutation is associated with complex alterations in the respiratory chain, including a dispensable induction of the alternative oxidase. It is also associated with a stabilization of the mitochondrial chromosome and a reduction of the overall cellular level of reactive oxygen species.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, 1 Avenue de la terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France. Maas@cgm.cnrs-gif.fr
authors.forename: M F P M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sellem
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: A J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Debets
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sainsard-Chanet
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D048468:Podospora / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000099188:Alternative Oxidase
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D010940:Plant Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000099188:Alternative Oxidase