Open AccessA causal link between respiration and senescence in Podospora anserina
Author(s) -
Éric Dufour,
Joceline Boulay,
Vincent Rincheval,
Annie Sainsard-Chanet
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.070501997
Subject(s) - podospora anserina , senescence , biology , mitochondrial dna , longevity , genetics , alternative oxidase , mutant , mitochondrion , filamentous fungus , cytochrome c oxidase , respiratory chain , gene , nuclear gene , microbiology and biotechnology
Senescence, a progressive degenerative process leading to age-related increase in mortality, is found in most eukaryotes. However, the molecular events underlying aging remain largely unknown. Understanding how longevity is regulated is a fundamental problem. Here we demonstrate that the respiratory function is a key factor that contributes to shortening lifespan of the filamentous fungusPodospora anserina . In this organism, senescence is systematically associated with mitochondrial DNA instabilities. We show that inactivation of the nuclearCOX5 gene encoding subunit V of the cytochromec oxidase complex leads to the exclusive use of the alternative respiratory pathway and to a decrease in production of reactive oxygen species. This inactivation results in a striking increase of longevity associated with stabilization of the mitochondrial chromosome. Moreover, accumulation of several senescence-specific mitochondrial DNA molecules is prevented in this nuclear mutant. These findings provide direct evidence of a causal link between mitochondrial metabolism and longevity inPodospora anserina .