[Anti-aging research using SMP30/GNL knockout mice].
Senescence Marker Protein-30 (SMP30) was originally identified as a novel protein in the rat liver, the expression of which decreases with aging. Recently, we identified SMP30 as the lactone-hydrolyzing enzyme gluconolactonases (GNL) of animal species. GNL was a key enzyme which involved in vitamin C biosynthesis, and the essential role of SMP30 in this synthetic process was verified by a nutritional study. SMP30 knockout mice developed symptoms of scurvy when fed a vitamin C-deficient diet, verifying the pivotal role of SMP30 in vitamin C biosynthesis. Moreover, SMP30 knockout mice were shorter in life span than the wild type when fed autoclaved mouse chow contained approximately 55 mg/kg of vitamin C, which we now know contains too little vitamin C to maintain normal levels of vitamin C in tissues. These results demonstrate that vitamin C deficiency shortens longevity, that is, vitamin C deficiency accelerates aging.
Ishigami
Akihito
A
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. ishigami@phar.toho-u.ac.jp
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C513324:Rgn protein, mouse; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C020579:gluconolactonase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid