title: Sod2 knockdown in the musculature has whole-organism consequences in Drosophila.
abstract: Oxidative damage to cell macromolecules by reactive oxygen species is associated with numerous diseases and aging. In Drosophila, RNAi-mediated silencing of the mitochondrial antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) throughout the body dramatically reduces life span, accelerates senescence of locomotor function, and enhances sensitivity to applied oxidative stress. Here, we show that Sod2 knockdown in the musculature alone is sufficient to cause the shortened life span and accelerated locomotor declines observed with knockdown of Sod2 throughout the body, indicating that Sod2 deficiency in muscle is central to these phenotypes. Knockdown of Sod2 in the muscle also increased caspase activity (a marker for apoptosis) and caused a mitochondrial pathology characterized by swollen mitochondria, decreased mitochondrial content, and reduced ATP levels. These findings indicate that Sod2 plays a crucial role in the musculature in Drosophila and that the consequences of SOD2 loss in this tissue extend to the viability of the organism as a whole.
authors: Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23113, USA.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Martin
authors: Melanie A
authors: MA
authors: Jones
authors: Devin
authors: D
authors: Rhodenizer
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zheng
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Warrick
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Seroude
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Grotewiel
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000235:genetics; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D020169:Caspases; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2