Rates of behavior and aging specified by mitochondrial function during development.
Authors: Dillin A; Hsu AL; Arantes-Oliveira N; Lehrer-Graiwer J; Hsin H; Fraser AG; Kamath RS; Ahringer J; Kenyon C Year: 2002 Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) Abstract: To explore the role of mitochondrial activity in the aging process, we have lowered the activity of the electron transport chain and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthase with RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans. These perturbations reduced body size and behavioral rates and extended adult life-span. Restoring messenger RNA to near-normal levels during adulthood did not elevate ATP levels and did not correct any of these phenotypes. Conversely, inhibiting respiratory-chain components during adulthood only did not reset behavioral rates and did not affect life-span. Thus, the developing animal appears to contain a regulatory system that monitors mitochondrial activity early in life and, in response, establishes rates of respiration, behavior, and aging that persist during adulthood. Reference
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