Age-related changes in the excision repair capacity of Turbatrix aceti

Excision repair capacity was measured in the free-living nematode Turbatrix aceti, a model aging system. Excision repair was assessed by both repair synthesis activity and the actual removal of pyrimidine dimers from the genome. The young organisms removed lesions more rapidly and completely than the old for all fluences tested. Repair synthesis began and peaked earlier for young nematodes than old. The data consistently indicated a decline in DNA excision repair capacity with age in the nematode.