Cytochrome c oxidase loses catalytic activity and structural integrity during the aging process in Drosophila melanogaster.
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.
Ren
Jian-Ching
JC
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Rebrin
Igor
I
Klichko
Vladimir
V
Orr
William C
WC
Sohal
Rajindar S
RS
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
D021122:Protein Subunits; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV