title: The Mitochondria-Targeted Plastoquinone-Derivative SkQ1 Promotes Health and Increases Drosophila melanogaster Longevity in Various Environments.
abstract: Mitochondria play an important role in aging. Strongly reduced function of the mitochondria shortens life span, whereas moderate reduction prolongs life span, with reactive oxygen species production being the major factor contributing to life span changes. Previously, picomolar concentrations of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 were shown to increase the life span of Drosophila by approximately 10%. In this article, we demonstrate that SkQ1 elevates locomotion, which is often considered a marker of health and age. We also show that mating frequency and fecundity may be slightly increased in SkQ1-treated flies. These results indicate that SkQ1 not only prolongs life span but also improves health and vigor. An important property of any potential therapeutic is the stability of its effects in an uncontrolled and changing environment as well as on individuals with various genetic constitutions. In this article, we present data on SkQ1 effects on Drosophila longevity in extreme environments (low temperatures and starvation) and on individuals with severe genetic alterations in the mitochondrial systems responsible for production and detoxification of reactive oxygen species. We hypothesize that in vivo SkQ1 is capable of alleviating the probable negative effects of increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production on longevity but is not effective when reactive oxygen species production is already reduced by other means.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsybul'ko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.|Emmanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krementsova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Symonenko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.|Federal State-Financed Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Institute of Biology and Chemistry, Russia.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rybina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roshina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasyukova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000071251:Extreme Environments; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010971:Plastoquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C532038:10-(6'-plastoquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D010971:Plastoquinone
keywords: Antioxidant; Drosophila; Life span; Locomotion; Reproduction