Authors
Brack C. Bechter-Thuring E. Labuhn M.
Institution
Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Brack:ubaclu.unibas.ch
Title
N-acetylcysteine slows
down ageing and increases the life span of Drosophila
melanogaster.
Source
Cellular & Molecular Life Sciences. 53(11-12):960-6, 1997 Dec.
Abstract
Ageing can be defined as the time-dependent decline of physiological
functions of an organism. The molecular causes for the ageing process are
multiple, involving both genetic and environmental factors. It has been
proposed that antioxidants may positively influence the ageing process,
protecting the organism against free radical-induced damage. Here we show
that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has a
life-extending effect on Drosophila melanogaster. Dietary uptake of NAC
results in a dose-dependent increase in median and maximum life span. Flies
fed on 1 mg/ml NAC food live 16.6% longer; at 10 mg/ml, life span increases
by 26.6%. We have examined the effect of NAC treatment on protein and RNA
levels: we observe an NAC-dependent increase in absolute amounts of total RNA
and ribosomal RNA, but no differences in protein levels. The NAC effect on
longevity may involve differential expression of specific mRNA genes, as
suggested by RNA finger-printing experiments.