Letter abstract
Nature Cell Biology 11, 852 - 858 (2009)
Published online: 21 June 2009 | doi:10.1038/ncb1893
Increasing organismal healthspan by enhancing mitochondrial protein quality control
Karin Luce1 & Heinz D. Osiewacz1
Degradation of damaged proteins by members of the protein quality control system is of fundamental importance in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In mitochondria, organelles which both generate and are targets of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a number of membrane bound and soluble proteases are essential components of this system. Here we describe the regulation of Podospora anserina LON (PaLON) levels, an AAA+ family serine protease localized in the matrix fraction of mitochondria. Constitutive overexpression of PaLon results in transgenic strains of the fungal ageing model P. anserina showing increased ATP-dependent serine protease activity. These strains display lower levels of carbonylated (aconitase) and carboxymethylated proteins, reduced secretion of hydrogen peroxide and a higher resistance against exogenous oxidative stress. Moreover, they are characterized by an extended lifespan without impairment of vital functions such as respiration, growth and fertility. The reported genetic manipulation proved to be a successful intervention in organismal ageing and it led to an increase in the healthy lifespan, the healthspan, of P. anserina.
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Faculty for Biosciences and Cluster of Excellence Macromolecular Complexes, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
Correspondence to: Heinz D. Osiewacz1 e-mail: osiewacz@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
RESEARCH
Reducing mitochondrial fission results in increased life span and fitness of two fungal ageing modelsNature Cell Biology Letter (01 Jan 2007)
Lon protease preferentially degrades oxidized mitochondrial aconitase by an ATP-stimulated mechanismNature Cell Biology Article (01 Sep 2002)
Knockout of 'metal-responsive transcription factor' MTF-1 in Drosophila by homologous recombination reveals its central role in heavy metal homeostasisThe EMBO Journal Article (02 Jan 2003)
See all 4 matches for Research
