Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondrial (Mit) mutants have disrupted mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) functionality, yet, surprisingly, they are long lived. We have previously proposed that Mit mutants supplement their energy needs by exploiting alternate energy production pathways normally used by wild-type animals only when exposed to hypoxic conditions. We have also proposed that longevity in the Mit mutants arises as a property of their new metabolic state. If longevity does arise as a function of metabolic state, we would expect to find a common metabolic signature among these animals. To test these predictions, we established a novel approach monitoring the C. elegans exometabolism as a surrogate marker for internal metabolic events. Using HPLC-ultraviolet-based metabolomics and multivariate analyses, we show that long-lived clk-1(qm30) and isp-1(qm150) Mit mutants have a common metabolic profile that is distinct from that of aerobically cultured wild-type animals and, unexpectedly, wild-type animals cultured under severe oxygen deprivation. Moreover, we show that 2 short-lived mitochondrial ETC mutants, mev-1(kn1) and ucr-2.3(pk732), also share a common metabolic signature that is unique. We show that removal of soluble fumarate reductase unexpectedly increases health span in several genetically defined Mit mutants, identifying at least 1 alternate energy production pathway, malate dismutation, that is operative in these animals. Our study suggests long-lived, genetically specified Mit mutants employ a novel metabolism and that life span may well arise as a function of metabolic state.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4977-4988 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | FASEB Journal |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2010 |
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Keywords
- Aging
- Hif-1
- Isp-1
- Metabolomics
- Mev-1
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Cite this
Long-lived mitochondrial (Mit) mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans utilize a novel metabolism. / Butler, Jeffrey A.; Ventura, Natascia; Johnson, Thomas E.; Rea, Shane L.
In: FASEB Journal, Vol. 24, No. 12, 12.2010, p. 4977-4988.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-lived mitochondrial (Mit) mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans utilize a novel metabolism
AU - Butler, Jeffrey A.
AU - Ventura, Natascia
AU - Johnson, Thomas E.
AU - Rea, Shane L.
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - The Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondrial (Mit) mutants have disrupted mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) functionality, yet, surprisingly, they are long lived. We have previously proposed that Mit mutants supplement their energy needs by exploiting alternate energy production pathways normally used by wild-type animals only when exposed to hypoxic conditions. We have also proposed that longevity in the Mit mutants arises as a property of their new metabolic state. If longevity does arise as a function of metabolic state, we would expect to find a common metabolic signature among these animals. To test these predictions, we established a novel approach monitoring the C. elegans exometabolism as a surrogate marker for internal metabolic events. Using HPLC-ultraviolet-based metabolomics and multivariate analyses, we show that long-lived clk-1(qm30) and isp-1(qm150) Mit mutants have a common metabolic profile that is distinct from that of aerobically cultured wild-type animals and, unexpectedly, wild-type animals cultured under severe oxygen deprivation. Moreover, we show that 2 short-lived mitochondrial ETC mutants, mev-1(kn1) and ucr-2.3(pk732), also share a common metabolic signature that is unique. We show that removal of soluble fumarate reductase unexpectedly increases health span in several genetically defined Mit mutants, identifying at least 1 alternate energy production pathway, malate dismutation, that is operative in these animals. Our study suggests long-lived, genetically specified Mit mutants employ a novel metabolism and that life span may well arise as a function of metabolic state.
AB - The Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondrial (Mit) mutants have disrupted mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) functionality, yet, surprisingly, they are long lived. We have previously proposed that Mit mutants supplement their energy needs by exploiting alternate energy production pathways normally used by wild-type animals only when exposed to hypoxic conditions. We have also proposed that longevity in the Mit mutants arises as a property of their new metabolic state. If longevity does arise as a function of metabolic state, we would expect to find a common metabolic signature among these animals. To test these predictions, we established a novel approach monitoring the C. elegans exometabolism as a surrogate marker for internal metabolic events. Using HPLC-ultraviolet-based metabolomics and multivariate analyses, we show that long-lived clk-1(qm30) and isp-1(qm150) Mit mutants have a common metabolic profile that is distinct from that of aerobically cultured wild-type animals and, unexpectedly, wild-type animals cultured under severe oxygen deprivation. Moreover, we show that 2 short-lived mitochondrial ETC mutants, mev-1(kn1) and ucr-2.3(pk732), also share a common metabolic signature that is unique. We show that removal of soluble fumarate reductase unexpectedly increases health span in several genetically defined Mit mutants, identifying at least 1 alternate energy production pathway, malate dismutation, that is operative in these animals. Our study suggests long-lived, genetically specified Mit mutants employ a novel metabolism and that life span may well arise as a function of metabolic state.
KW - Aging
KW - Hif-1
KW - Isp-1
KW - Metabolomics
KW - Mev-1
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649752713&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78649752713&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1096/fj.10-162941
DO - 10.1096/fj.10-162941
M3 - Article
C2 - 20732954
AN - SCOPUS:78649752713
VL - 24
SP - 4977
EP - 4988
JO - FASEB Journal
JF - FASEB Journal
SN - 0892-6638
IS - 12
ER -