CGC Bibliography Paper 5624

Rates of behavior and aging specified by mitochondrial function during development.

Dillin A, Hsu AL, Arantes-Oliveira N, Lehrer-Graiwer J, Hsin H, Fraser AG, Kamath RS, Ahringer J, Kenyon C

Medline:

12471266

Citation:

Science 298: 2398-2401 2002

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

atp-3 cco-1 clk-1 cyc-1 daf-2 daf-4 daf-16 dcr-1 isp-1

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.