ecstatichamster
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- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
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great review.
When the fact that fatty acids differ dramatically in their susceptibility to peroxidative damage is combined with species variation in membrane composition, the link between body size, metabolic rate, and longevity becomes more apparent. In this contribution, we have discussed evidence that the fatty acid composition of membranes can potentially explain 1) the shorter longevity of small mammals compared with larger mammals, 2) the exceptional longevity of naked mole-rats compared with similar-sized mice, 3) the extended longevity of wild-derived lines of mice compared with laboratory mice, 4) the longer life spans of birds compared with similar-sized mammals, 5) the extended longevity of rodents caused by calorie restriction, 6) the longevity difference between workers and queens in honeybees, and 7) also suggested it may be an explanation for the exceptional longevity of our own species, Homo sapiens. Furthermore, we have also discussed the studies which show that membranes with fatty acid compositions prone to peroxidation are also associated with greater levels of lipoxidative damage to other cellular constituents. All these studies suggest that variation in membrane fatty acid composition may be an important missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle explaining aging and the mechanisms that determine the maximum life span specific for each species. It is a testable hypothesis that awaits further experiments. Since metabolic rate has been called the “fire of life,” then maybe the mitochondrial production of superoxide from this fire can be likened to the “pilot light” and lipid peroxidation (and its reactive products) can be likened to the “furnace” of oxidative stress.
