Abstract
INVESTIGATIONS have shown that senescence is accompanied by molecular changes in the structure of the eukaryotic genome. Some of these changes have been reported to result in the loss of some genetic material in the brain cells of ageing beagles1. Furthermore, the molecular weight of rat liver DNA decreases as a function of senescence2. If such changes occurred on a large scale, the resulting genetic damage could affect severely some of the crucial gene functions of an organism. We are studying the physical state of the DNA of senescing mice, and report here the accumulation of an increasing amount of single-stranded regions in the DNA with age.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Johnson, R., and Strehler, N. L., Nature, 240, 412–414 (1972).
Massie, H. R., Baird, M. B., Nicolosi, R. J., and Samis, H. B., Archs. biochem. Biophys., 153, 736–741 (1972).
Marmur, J., J. molec. Biol., 3, 208–218 (1961).
Sutton, W. D., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 240, 522–531 (1971).
Samis, H. B., Falzone, J. A., and Wulff, V. J., Gerontologia, Basel, 12, 79–88 (1966).
Price, G. B., Modak, S. P., and Makinodan, T., Science, 171, 917–920 (1971).
Yoneda, M., and Bollum, F. J., J. Biol. Chem., 240, 3385–3391 (1965).
Wang, K. M., Rose, N. R., Bartholomew, I. A., Balzer, M., Berde, K., and Foldvary, M., Expl Cell Res., 61, 357–364 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CHETSANGA, C., BOYD, V., PETERSON, L. et al. Single-stranded regions in DNA of old mice. Nature 253, 130–131 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253130a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253130a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Quantitative detection of DNA damage in the neuronal cells of the cerebellum and cerebrum by the analysis of Feulgen hydrolysis curves
Histochemistry (1986)
-
Susceptibility of mouse liver DNA to digestion by S1 nuclease: Absence of age-related change
AGE (1979)
-
DNA lesions occur with loss of viability in embryos of ageing rye seed
Nature (1978)
-
Change with age of feulgen-DNA values in the blood-sucking insect, Triatoma infestans klug
Histochemistry (1977)