Erythrocyte plasma membrane redox system may determine maximum life span.
There is great variation in the maximum life span of different species. The rate of living theory provides an explanation for the inter species difference in life span but falls short in accounting for the long life span of humans and flying birds. Although the membrane pacemaker theory given by Hulbert provides a viable explanation but there are still some unanswered questions. We propose that long living species have abnormally high activity of erythrocyte plasma membrane redox system which provides an effective armament to combat oxidative stress. The elevated PMRS hypothesis combined with Hulbert's 'membrane pacemaker' theory provides a better explanation for the observed long life span of humans and flying birds.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211002, India. sirizvi@gmail.com
Syed Ibrahim
SI
Rizvi
Dileep
D
Kumar
Shilpa
S
Chakravarti
Prabhakar
P
Singh
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats