title: Protein Oxidation in Aging: Does It Play a Role in Aging Progression?
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  A constant accumulation of oxidized proteins takes place during aging. Oxidation of proteins leads to a partial unfolding and, therefore, to aggregation. Protein aggregates impair the activity of cellular proteolytic systems (proteasomes, lysosomes), resulting in further accumulation of oxidized proteins. In addition, the accumulation of highly crosslinked protein aggregates leads to further oxidant formation, damage to macromolecules, and, finally, to apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, protein oxidation seems to play a role in the development of various age-related diseases, for example, neurodegenerative diseases.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The highly oxidized lipofuscin accumulates during aging. Lipofuscin formation might cause impaired lysosomal and proteasomal degradation, metal ion accumulation, increased reactive oxygen species formation, and apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is still unclear to which extent protein oxidation is involved in the progression of aging and in the development of some age-related diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An extensive knowledge of the effects of protein oxidation on the aging process and its contribution to the development of age-related diseases could enable further strategies to reduce age-related impairments. Strategies aimed at lowering aggregate formation might be a straightforward intervention to reduce age-related malfunctions of organs.
authors.affiliation: German Institute of Human Nutrition , Nuthetal, Germany .
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reeg
authors.affiliation: German Institute of Human Nutrition , Nuthetal, Germany .
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grune
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008062:Lipofuscin; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D011506:Proteins; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex