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Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications
09:29

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications

Published on: May 18, 2017

Decreased rates of protein synthesis by cell-free preparations from different organs of aging mice

C A Blazejowski, G C Webster

    Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
    |March 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Aging significantly reduces protein synthesis in most tissues, with heart muscle showing remarkable resilience. This study reveals age-related declines in translational rates across various organs in mice.

    Area of Science:

    • Gerontology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Cellular aging is associated with declining physiological functions.
    • Protein synthesis is crucial for cellular maintenance and function.
    • Understanding age-related changes in protein synthesis is vital for comprehending aging processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the age-dependent changes in protein synthetic activity.
    • To compare the effects of aging on protein synthesis across different tissues.

    Main Methods:

    • Protein synthetic activity was measured in postmitochondrial preparations.
    • Experiments were conducted on female C57B1/6J mice aged 5-26 months.
    • Tissues analyzed included heart, brain, kidney, liver, and skeletal muscle.

    Main Results:

    • All tissues except heart muscle showed an age-dependent decrease in protein synthesis.
    • Liver exhibited a 65% decrease, skeletal muscle an 85% decrease, and kidney a 70% decrease by 26 months.
    • Brain translation declined by 33% between 20 and 26 months.
    • Heart muscle showed minimal decline (≤10%) in protein synthesis over the lifespan.

    Conclusions:

    • Aging differentially impacts protein synthesis rates in various tissues.
    • Heart muscle demonstrates significant resistance to age-related decline in protein synthesis.
    • These findings highlight tissue-specific vulnerabilities and resilience during the aging process.

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