ROS not Responsible for Aging in Fruit Flies?

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Hi folsk:

" Lack of correlation between mitochondrial reactive oxygen species

production and life span in Drosophila.

Miwa S, Riyahi K, Partridge L, Brand MD.

MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.

sm@...

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. "

Rodney.