Nectarine promotes longevity in Drosophila melanogaster.

Authors: Boyd O; Weng P; Sun X; Alberico T; Laslo M; Obenland DM; Kern B; Zou S

Abstract: Fruits containing high antioxidant capacities and other bioactivities are ideal for promoting longevity and health span. However, few fruits are known to improve the survival and health span in animals, let alone the underlying mechanisms. Here we investigate the effects of nectarine, a globally consumed fruit, on life span and health span in Drosophila melanogaster. Wild-type flies were fed standard, dietary restriction (DR), or high-fat diet supplemented with 0-4% nectarine extract. We measured life span, food intake, locomotor activity, fecundity, gene expression changes, and oxidative damage indicated by the level of 4-hydroxynonenal-protein adduct in these flies. We also measured life span, locomotor activity, and oxidative damage in sod1 mutant flies on the standard diet supplemented with 0-4% nectarine. Supplementation with 4% nectarine extended life span, increased fecundity, and decreased expression of some metabolic genes, including a key gluconeogenesis gene, PEPCK, and oxidative stress-response genes, including peroxiredoxins, in female wild-type flies fed the standard, DR, or high-fat diet. Nectarine reduced oxidative damage in wild-type females fed the high-fat diet. Moreover, nectarine improved the survival of and reduced oxidative damage in female sod1 mutant flies. Together, these findings suggest that nectarine promotes longevity and health span partly by modulating glucose metabolism and reducing oxidative damage.

Keywords: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Antioxidants/*administration & dosage; Diet; Drosophila melanogaster/*physiology; Female; Fertility/drug effects/genetics; *Fruit; Gene Expression Regulation; Longevity/drug effects; Motor Activity/drug effects; Mutation/genetics; Oxidative Stress/drug effects/genetics; Peroxiredoxins/genetics/metabolism; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP)/genetics/metabolism; Plant Extracts/*administration & dosage; Superoxide Dismutase/genetics/*metabolism
Journal: Free radical biology & medicine
Volume: 50
Issue: 11
Pages: 1669-78
Date: March 17, 2011
PMID: 21406223
Select reference article to upload


Citation:

Boyd O, Weng P, Sun X, Alberico T, Laslo M, Obenland DM, Kern B, Zou S (2011) Nectarine promotes longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Free radical biology & medicine 50: 1669-78.


Study
Update (Admin) | Auto-Update

Comment on This Data Unit