Mitochondrial coenzyme Q content and aging

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lass, Achim | Kwong, Linda | Sohal, Rajindar S.^;

Affiliations: Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Professor R.S. Sohal, Southern Methodist University, 220 Fondren Science Bldg., Dallas, TX 75275, USA. Tel.: +1 214 768 2732; Fax: +1 214 768 3955; E‐mail: rsohal@ mail.smu.edu.

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to determine the nature of the relationship between aging and mitochondrial coenzyme Q (CoQ) content. Mitochondria in the heart, skeletal muscle, kidney and brain of the mouse varied in both the amount of total CoQ (CoQ_{9}+{}CoQ_{10}) content as well as in the ratio of the CoQ_{9} to CoQ_{10}. CoQ content declined with age only in the skeletal muscle. Caloric restriction (CR) resulted in an increase in the amount of CoQ_{9} in skeletal muscle mitochondria. This effect was partially reversible upon termination of the caloric restriction regimen. Results suggest that a decrease in mitochondrial CoQ content is an integral aspect of aging in skeletal muscle.

Journal: Biofactors, vol. 9, no. 2-4, pp. 199-205, 1999