| Aging is characterized by a gradual decline in the capacity of physiological systems, leading eventually to failure of a critical system, then death. At the biochemical level, aging is considered the result of chronic chemical modification of all classes of biomolecules. According to the free radical theory of aging, ROS are the primary culprits, causing alterations in the sequence of DNA (mutations) and structure of proteins. Longevity is achieved by developing efficient systems to limit and/or repair chemical damage. Caloric restriction is, at present, the only widely applicable mechanism for delaying aging and extending the mean, healthy, and maximum lifespan of species. CR appears to work, in part, by inhibiting the production of ROS and limiting damage to biomolecules, delaying many of the characteristic features of aging, including cancer.
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- Discuss the evidence that caloric restriction increases the mean and maximum lifespan of primates.
- Review recent literature on mouse genetic models of mammalian aging and discuss the relationship between growth rate, obesity, calorie restriction and aging in the mouse.
- Describe the basis for the decline in renal glomerular and tubular function during aging.
- Discuss the nature of protein carbonyls and lipofuscin and their relevance to aging.
- Discuss the relative importance of chemical damage to protein and DNA during aging.
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| Barja G. Endogenous oxidative stress: relationship to aging, longevity and caloric restriction. Ageing Res Rev 2002 Jun;1(3):397-411.
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Baynes JW. From life to death - the struggle between chemistry and biology during aging. Biogerontology 2000;1(3):235-246.
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| Butler RN et al. Is there an anti-aging medicine? J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2002 Sep;57(9):B333-338.
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| Chomyn A, Attardi G. MtDNA mutations in aging and apoptosis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003;304(3):519-29.
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| Knight JA. The biochemistry of aging. Adv Clin Chem 2000;35:1-62.
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| Martin GM, Oshima J. Lessons from human progeroid syndromes. Nature 2000 Nov 9;408(6809):263-266.
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| Levine RL, Stadtman ER. Oxidative modification of proteins during aging. Exp Gerontol 2001;36:1495-1502.
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| Szweda PA et al. Proteolysis, free radicals, and aging. Free Radic Biol Med 2002 Jul 1;33(1):29-36.
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| Caloric restriction: www.calorierestriction.org
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| Telomeres: www.medslides.com/member/Oncology/Basic_Science/telomerase.ppt
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