title: Cytochrome c oxidase loses catalytic activity and structural integrity during the aging process in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: The hypothesis, that structural deterioration of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is a causal factor in the age-related decline in mitochondrial respiratory activity and an increase in H₂O₂ generation, was tested in Drosophila melanogaster. CcO activity and the levels of seven different nuclear DNA-encoded CcO subunits were determined at three different stages of adult life, namely, young-, middle-, and old-age. CcO activity declined progressively with age by 33%. Western blot analysis, using antibodies specific to Drosophila CcO subunits IV, Va, Vb, VIb, VIc, VIIc, and VIII, indicated that the abundance these polypeptides decreased, ranging from 11% to 40%, during aging. These and previous results suggest that CcO is a specific intra-mitochondrial site of age-related deterioration, which may have a broad impact on mitochondrial physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Jian-Ching
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rebrin
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Klichko
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: Rajindar S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sohal
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV