Formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase targeted to specific organelles in C2C12 cells

Karah A. Street, Kerrie L. Hall, Patrick Murphy, Christi A. Walter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mitochondrial respiration provides a major source of energy for eukaryotic cells. However, the energy-producing processes also generate reactive oxygen species, which in turn damage mitochondrial DNA found in the mitochondrial matrix. Due to its locale, mitochondrial DNA is more susceptible to oxidative damage than nuclear DNA. While mitochondria do have some DNA repair capabilities, particularly base excision repair, oxidative damage persists in mitochondrial DNA. Correlations have been demonstrated between increasing age and increased levels of oxidative damage and mitochondrial DNA mutations. The current experiments were designed to begin to more directly delineate the role oxidative damage in mitochondrial DNA plays in aging. The mouse myoblast cell line, C2C12, was transfected with vectors, which express formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase-myc fusion protein (Fpg-myc) and which contain either a mitochondrial or nuclear localization signal. Positive transfectants display expression of fpg at the mRNA level and exhibit an increase in Fpg activity in a whole-cell protein extract using a Fpg activity assay. Immunofluorescence analyses confirm that the transfected vectors have Fpg-myc appropriately targeted to mitochondria or nuclei. These cell lines with specifically targeted Fpg-myc expression provide the tools to test the effects of increasing the levels of a DNA glycosylase in mitochondria and nuclei on oxidative damage in DNA.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)275-285
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of anti-aging medicine
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging

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