X-Message-Number: 25503
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 09:55:46 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: nuclear DNA may be the key to aging after all

Bioessays. 2004 Nov;26(11):1160-3
What the papers say: where is the somatic mutation that causes aging?
  It has been proposed that somatic mutations make major contributions to
aging. The first paper, based on a gene knock-in mouse, supports a
contributory role for mutation in mtDNA in aging, but does not support a
damaged-mtDNA-producing-more-damaged-mtDNA hypothesis. The second paper
indicates some GC-rich sequences in the nuclear DNA are more sensitive to
oxidative damage than mtDNA. As a result, key genes involved in brain
function and mitochondrial function are progressively inactivated with
age. Failure in these nucleus-encoded mitochondrial genes may be a
primary reason for mitochondrial failure in old age.

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