X-Message-Number: 24521
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 17:58:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: Free radicals don't seem to "age" flies

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Jun;1019:388-91
Lack of correlation between mitochondrial reactive oxygen species
production and life span in Drosophila.
  The free radical theory of aging proposes that mitochondrial production
of reactive oxygen species (ROS) determines the rate of aging. Supporting
this hypothesis, longer-lived species produce fewer ROS than
shorter-lived ones, and calorically restricted rodents live longer and
produce fewer ROS than controls. We studied such correlation in Drosophila
melanogaster in caloric restriction and in mutant flies overexpressing
the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT). Caloric
restriction extended life span, but there was no significant difference
in mitochondrial ROS production compared with controls. ANT overexpressers
had significantly lower ROS production (because they had lower membrane
potential), but their life span was not extended compared to wild type.
Our results show two examples in which mitochondrial ROS production and
life span are not correlated.

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