[
International Worm Meeting,
2011]
Cyclophilin D (CyPD), a mitochondrial matrix protein, has been widely studied for its diverse role in mitochondria physiological mechanism. We previously established in this laboratory that overexpression of CyPD in stable HEK cell lines, increased cell survival under oxidative stress conditions. For further investigation, integrated overexpression of CyPD was achieved in Caenorhabditis elegans and lifespan analysis has shown that they are long lived. To understand the mechanism of CyPD in longevity, ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (DY) were measured throughout the life of the animal using confocal microscopy. ROS was imaged using Mitosox (a superoxide indicator) and DY was imaged using TMRM (mitochondria potential indicator), in the mitochondria rich organ, the pharynx. Measurements, at various times in the worm's lifespan gave us surprising results. We found that transgenic long lived nematodes have higher rates of superoxide production and have higher mitochondrial membrane potentials. The oxidative stress theory of aging states that more ROS production would limit lifespan as a result of accumulation of damage over time. Our data speaks to the contrary and suggest that ROS production is not an appropriate indicator for lifespan. This new data about ROS corresponds with other aging researchers finding that ROS may have a more complex role in aging than previously suggested. More importantly, the functional consequences of CyPD overexpression in an organism, have never indicated a role in longevity. CyPD's role in aging pathology will add new understanding to CypD's unique role in the mitochondria.