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Superior proteome stability in the longest lived animal
S B Treaster1, I D Ridgway, C A Richardson
1Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 15355 Lambda Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78245, USA.
Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|November 21, 2013
Summary
Long-lived bivalves, including Arctica islandica, demonstrate superior proteome stability and resistance to protein unfolding. This suggests enhanced proteostasis is key to extreme longevity and resilience against stressors.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Gerontology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bivalve mollusks exhibit diverse lifespans, from under a decade to over 500 years.
- Long-lived species offer insights into aging and senescence-resistance mechanisms.
- Proteome stability is hypothesized to be crucial for extended longevity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between species longevity and proteome stability in marine bivalves.
- To compare protein structure and function under stress across species with varying lifespans.
- To test the hypothesis that long life requires superior proteome stability.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of marine bivalve species with lifespans ranging from <10 to >500 years.
- Assessment of protein unfolding, creatine kinase activity, and protein aggregation under stress.
- Utilized a reporter assay to evaluate protein aggregation properties in different species' lysates.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was observed between species longevity, resistance to protein unfolding, and creatine kinase activity.
- The longest-lived species, Arctica islandica, showed no significant increase in proteome unfolding under stress.
- Shorter-lived species exhibited lower resistance to temperature-induced protein aggregation compared to longer-lived species.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced proteome stability is strongly linked to longevity in bivalve mollusks.
- Endogenous factors, potentially molecular chaperones, contribute to the superior proteome stability in long-lived species.
- This study reinforces the critical role of proteostasis in determining lifespan and stress resilience.
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