Oxidative stress and ageing in Caenorhabditis elegans

• Published in: Biochemical journal Vol. 292 ( Pt 2); no. 2; pp. 605 - 608
• Main Author: Vanfleteren, J R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-06-1993
• Subjects: Aging - metabolism; Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans - enzymology; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans - physiology; Catalase - metabolism; Drug Resistance; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Microsomes - metabolism; Oxidation-Reduction; Paraquat - pharmacology; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Superoxides - metabolism
• ISSN: 0264-6021; 1470-8728
• DOI: 10.1042/bj2920605

Mutations in the age-1 gene double both the mean and maximum life span of Caenorhabditis elegans. They also result in an age-specific increase of catalase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity levels. The higher superoxide dismutase activity levels in age-1 mutants confer hyperresistance to the superoxide-anion-generating drug paraquat. The rate of superoxide anion production by microsome fractions declines linearly with age in age-1(+) worms, but, after an initial decline, is stabilized at a higher level in senescent age-1 mutant nematodes. These results clearly show that oxidative stress resistance and potential life span are correlated in this organism, and they suggest that the natural product of age-1 either directly or indirectly downregulates the activities of several other genes as a function of age.