title: Of mice, pigs and humans: An analysis of mitochondrial phospholipids from mammals with very different maximal lifespans.
abstract: The maximal lifespan (MLS) of mammals is inversely correlated with the peroxidation index, a measure of the proportion and level of unsaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in membranes. This relationship is likely related to the fact that PUFA are highly susceptible to damage by peroxidation. Previous comparative work has examined membrane composition at the level of fatty acids, and relatively little is known regarding the distribution of PUFA across phospholipid classes or phospholipid molecules. In addition, data for humans is extremely rare in this area. Here we present the first shotgun lipidomics analysis of mitochondrial membranes and the peroxidation index of skeletal muscle, liver, and brain in three mammals that span the range of mammalian longevity. The species compared were mice (MLS of 4 years), pigs (MLS of 27 years), and humans (MLS of 122 years). Mouse mitochondria contained highly unsaturated PUFA in all phospholipid classes. Human mitochondria had lower PUFA content and a lower degree of unsaturation of PUFA. Pig mitochondria shared characteristics of both mice and humans. We found that membrane susceptibility to peroxidation was primarily determined by a limited number of phospholipid molecules that differed between both tissues and species.
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Electronic address: chc159@uowmail.edu.au.
authors: Colin H
authors: CH
authors: Cortie
authors: School of Biology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Anthony J
authors: AJ
authors: Hulbert
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Sarah E
authors: SE
authors: Hancock
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Todd W
authors: TW
authors: Mitchell
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Darryl
authors: D
authors: McAndrew
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Paul L
authors: PL
authors: Else
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids
keywords: Docosahexaenoic acid; Membrane pacemaker; Peroxidation; Shotgun lipidomics