Age-dependent alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity changes in mutant and wild type Drosophila melanogaster

The age-related changes in the activity of the extramitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH) were compared in two mutants of Drosophila melanogaster, a vestigial-winged and an alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase deficient mutant with that of the wild type. The age-dependent patterns of activity change in both mutants were shown to be identical to that of the wild type. This is in spite of the lack of flight ability in both mutants, the reduced enzyme activity levels in the alpha-glycerophosphate mutant, and in the case of the vestigial flies, of reduced life-span. The results suggest that those mechanisms responsible for the observed aged-related activity changes in alpha-GPDH are intrinsically regulated, independent of functional flight, genetic alteration of specific activity, and life-span.