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. 2016 Apr 12;23(4):725-34.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.03.009.

Mitochondrial ROS Produced via Reverse Electron Transport Extend Animal Lifespan

Filippo Scialò  1 , Ashwin Sriram  1 , Daniel Fernández-Ayala  2 , Nina Gubina  3 , Madis Lõhmus  4 , Glyn Nelson  1 , Angela Logan  5 , Helen M Cooper  4 , Plácido Navas  2 , Jose Antonio Enríquez  6 , Michael P Murphy  5 , Alberto Sanz  7
Affiliations

Mitochondrial ROS Produced via Reverse Electron Transport Extend Animal Lifespan

Filippo Scialò et al. Cell Metab. .

Abstract

Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has long been considered a cause of aging. However, recent studies have implicated ROS as essential secondary messengers. Here we show that the site of ROS production significantly contributes to their apparent dual nature. We report that ROS increase with age as mitochondrial function deteriorates. However, we also demonstrate that increasing ROS production specifically through respiratory complex I reverse electron transport extends Drosophila lifespan. Reverse electron transport rescued pathogenesis induced by severe oxidative stress, highlighting the importance of the site of ROS production in signaling. Furthermore, preventing ubiquinone reduction, through knockdown of PINK1, shortens lifespan and accelerates aging; phenotypes that are rescued by increasing reverse electron transport. These results illustrate that the source of a ROS signal is vital in determining its effects on cellular physiology and establish that manipulation of ubiquinone redox state is a valid strategy to delay aging.

Keywords: aging; coenzyme Q; electron transport chain; mitochondria; reactive oxygen species.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Increased ROS Production in Aging Flies Correlates with Mitochondrial Dysfunction (A) Representative images of dissected fly brains stained with MitoSOX from wild-type flies of the indicated ages. (B) Quantification of (A) (n = 5). (C) Representative EM images of Dahomey flight muscle sections at 1,000x magnification dissected at the indicated ages (n = 10, 1 muscle per fly; red arrows indicated exemplar swollen, rounded mitochondria, see Figure S1C for quantification). (D) Mitochondrial respiration in Dahomey and Oregon R flies at the indicated ages (n = 6). (E) CI and CIII enzymatic activity in wild-type flies of the indicated ages (n = 5). (F) CI (NDUFS3), CII (SDHB), CIII (CYTOB), CIV (COX4), and CV (ATP5A) levels in wild-type flies. GAPDH is used as a loading control. (G) Quantification of (F). (H) ImpL3 expression in wild-type flies of the indicated ages. Values shown represent means ± SEM of at least three biological replicates, unless otherwise stated. See also Figure S1.
Figure 2
Figure 2
NDI1 Increases ROS Production via Over-Reduction of CoQ (A) Representative images of dissected brains from indicated genotypes stained with MitoSOX. (B) Quantification of (A) (n = 5). (C) Survival curves for the indicated genotypes (n = 200). (D) Schematic diagram illustrating effects of expressing two different alternative respiratory enzymes on electron transport: (i) NDI1 generates ROS by over-reducing the CoQ pool; (ii) AOX reverts the effects of NDI1 by re-oxidizing the CoQ pool; (iii) decrease in the levels of CI can prevent reduction of CoQ and subsequent ROS production; (iv) ectopic expression of mtCAT reduces ROS levels without altering mitochondrial respiration or the redox state of CoQ. (E) Representative images of brains from the indicated genotypes stained with MitoSOX. (F) Quantification of (E) (n = 5). (G) Survival curves for the indicated genotypes (n = 160). (H) In vivo ROS measurements from indicated genotypes in brains dissected from flies expressing a mitochondrially localized redox-sensitive GFP-based reporter. (I) Quantification of (H) (n = 5–7). (J) Quantification of brains dissected from flies of the indicated genotypes stained with MitoSOX (n = 5). (K) Survival curves for the indicated genotypes (n = 200). (L) Diagram illustrating using metabolic poisons to dissect ROS production: rotenone (ROT), carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), or myxothiazol (MYX). Green dashed arrows indicate the possible flow of electrons following CoQ reduction. (M) Quantification of brains dissected from NDI1 flies fed with metabolic poisons, stained with MitoSOX (n = 4). Values shown represent means ± SEM of at least 3 biological replicates, unless otherwise stated. See also Figure S2 and Table S1 for statistical analysis of survival curves.
Figure 3
Figure 3
NDI1-Mediated ROS Production Rescues Superoxide-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction (A) Representative images of fly brains from indicated genotypes stained with MitoSOX. (B) Quantification of (A) (n = 5). (C) Survival curves of the indicated genotypes (n = 180–380). (D) Mitochondrial respiration in flies of the indicated genotypes (n = 6). (E) CI, CII, and aconitase enzymatic activities in flies of the indicated genotypes (n = 7). Values shown represent means ± SEM of at least three biological replicates, unless otherwise stated. See also Figure S3 and Table S1 for statistical analysis of survival curves.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Re-Establishing the Redox State of CoQ Prevents Age-Related Pathology (A) PINK1 and Parkin levels in wild-type flies during aging. (B) Quantification of (A). (C) Representative images and quantification of dissected fly brains stained with MitoSOX (quantification n = 7). (D) Mitochondrial respiration in flies of the indicated genotypes. (E) CI, CII, and aconitase activities in flies of the indicated genotypes (n = 4–8). (F) Locomotive activity and flying time in flies of the indicated genotypes (n = 13). (G) Survival curves for the indicated genotypes (n = 160). (H) Mitochondrial respiration in flies of the indicated genotypes (n = 5). (I) Locomotive activity and flying time in flies of the indicated genotypes (n = 6). (J) Survival curves for the indicated genotypes (n = 160). Values shown represent means ± SEM of at least three biological replicates, unless otherwise stated. −/+ indicates absence/presence of 500 μM RU-486 during adulthood. See also Figure S4 and Table S1 for statistical analysis of survival curves.
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