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Therapeutics against Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Animal Models of Aging
Author(s) -
MELOV SIMON
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02104.x
Subject(s) - oxidative stress , mitochondrion , oxidative phosphorylation , chemistry , oxidative damage , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry
During the course of normal metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced from within the respiratory chain of the mitochondria. These ROS have the capacity to oxidize and damage a variety of cellular constituents including lipids, DNA, and proteins. We have taken a genetic and pharmacological approach in delineating the range of molecular targets that can be oxidatively damaged by mitochondrial ROS. Specifically, we use mice that are lacking the mitochondrial form of superoxide dismutase ( sod 2 −/− mice) to better understand the possible phenotypes that can arise from mitochondrial oxidative stress. sod 2 −/− mice can be used to test the efficacy of antioxidants, and more generally the efficacy of antioxidants against mitochondrial oxidative stress. We have evaluated superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics in this mammalian model of mitochondrial oxidative stress, and have shown a high degree of efficacy in protecting against ROS produced within the mitochondria. Similarly, we have employed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to test the hypothesis that effective antioxidant therapy can prolong the life span of an invertebrate.