title: Mitochondrial dysfunction and longevity in animals: Untangling the knot.
abstract: Mitochondria generate adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and are a source of potentially toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). It has been suggested that the gradual mitochondrial dysfunction that is observed to accompany aging could in fact be causal to the aging process. Here we review findings that suggest that age-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction is not sufficient to limit life span. Furthermore, mitochondrial ROS are not always deleterious and can even stimulate pro-longevity pathways. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction plays a complex role in regulating longevity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada. siegfried.hekimi@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hekimi
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000235:genetics; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017354:Point Mutation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C443102:Isp-1 protein, Caenorhabditis elegans; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III