Authors: Larsen PL; Clarke CF
Abstract: The isoprenylated benzoquinone coenzyme Q is a redox-active lipid essential for electron transport in aerobic respiration. Here, we show that withdrawal of coenzyme Q (Q) from the diet of wild-type nematodes extends adult life-span by approximately 60%. The longevity of clk-1, daf-2, daf-12, and daf-16 mutants is also extended by a Q-less diet. These results establish the importance of Q in life-span determination. The findings suggest that Q and the daf-2 pathway intersect at the mitochondria and imply that a concerted production coupled with enhanced scavenging of reactive oxygen species contributes to the substantial life-span extension.
Keywords: *Aging; Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/metabolism; Diet; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism; Fermentation; Genes, Helminth; Helminth Proteins/genetics/metabolism; Larva/growth & development/metabolism; *Longevity; Mitochondria/metabolism; Models, Biological; Mutation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen Consumption; Phenotype; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Receptor, Insulin/genetics/metabolism; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics/metabolism; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism; Ubiquinone/administration & dosage/*metabolism|
Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) Volume: 295 Issue: 5552 Pages: 120-3 Date: Jan. 5, 2002 PMID: 11778046 |
Larsen PL, Clarke CF (2002) Extension of life-span in Caenorhabditis elegans by a diet lacking coenzyme Q. Science (New York, N.Y.) 295: 120-3.
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