Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of sulfur-containing compounds on the life span of Drosophila

  • Published:
AGE Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dietary supplements of glutathione, glutathione precursors and other sulfur-containing molecules were fed to Drosophila. Marginal increases in life span were found for 0.078M pyroglutamic acid (+ 9.1%), 0.01M L-methionine (+ 4.9%), and 0.01M methionine + 1 mg/ml vitamin E (+ 7.3%). 0.05M L-methionine plus 10% casein increased life span by 14.8%. For all other concentrations of the following compounds life span was either unchanged or decreased: N-acetyl-L-cysteine, casein, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutathione, glycine, L-methionine, DL-methionine, DL-methionine sulfone, DL-methionine-DL-sulfoxide, L-pyroglutamic acid (5-oxoproline), sodium bisulfite, thiazolidine, 3,3′-thiodipropionic acid and thioproline (thiazolidine carboxylic acid).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Oeiru, S. and Tanase, I.: Biochemical aspects of aging. II. The amino acids in the biochemical mechanisms of aging rate of processes in man, in Biological Aspects of Aging, edited by Shock, N.W., New York, Columbia Univ. Pres, 1962, pp. 273–288.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Oeiru, S. and Tigheciu, M.: Oxidized glutathione as a test of senescence. Gerontologia, 9: 9–17, 1964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Oeiru, S.: Proteins in development and senescence, in Advances in Gerontological Research, vol. 1, edited by Strehler, B.L., New York, Academic Press, 1964, pp. 23–85.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Abraham, E.C., Taylor, J.F., and Lang, C.A.: Influence of mouse age and erythrocyte age on glutathione metabolism. Biochem. J., 174: 819–825, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hazelton, G.A. and Lang, C.A.: Glutathione contents of tissues in the aging mouse. Biochem. J., 188: 25–30, 1980.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hazelton, G.A. and Lang, C.A.: Glutathione biosynthesis in the aging adult yellow-fever mosquito [Aedes aegypti (Louisville)]. Biochem. J., 210: 289–295, 1983.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hazelton, G.A. and Lang, C.A.: Glutathione S-transferase activities in the yellow-fever mosquito [Aedes aegypti (Louisville)] during growth and aging. Biochem. J., 210: 281–287, 1983.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Harman, D.: The free radical theory of aging: The effect of age on serum mercaptan levels. J. Geront., 15: 38–40, 1960.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Stohs, S.J., El-Rashidy, F.H., Lawson, T., Kobayashi, R.H., Wulf, B.G., and Potter, J.F.: Changes in glutathione and glutathione metabolizing enzymes in human erythrocytes and lymphocytes as a function of age of donor. Age, 7: 3–7, 1984.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Poot, M., Verkerk, A., and Jongkind, J.F.: Glutathione content of cultured human fibroblasts during in vitro ageing. Mech. Age Devel., 27: 315–321, 1984.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Oeiru, S. and Vochitu, E.: The effect of the administration of compounds which contain sulfhydryl groups on the survival rates of mice, rats, and guinea pigs. J. Geront., 20: 417–419, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Harman, D.: Free radical theory of aging: Effect of free radical reaction inhibitors on the mortality rate of male LAF1 mice. J. Geront., 23: 476–482, 1968.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Miquel, J. and Economos, A.C.: Favorable effects of the antioxidants sodium and magnesium thiazolidine carboxylate on the vitality and life span of Drosophila and mice. Exp. Geront., 14: 279–285, 1979.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Meister, A. and Anderson, M.E.: Glutathione, in Ann. Rev. Biochem., vol. 52, edited by Snell, E.E., Palo Alto, Ann. Rev. Inc., 1983. pp. 711–760.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Freeman, B.A. and Crapo, J.D.: Biology of disease. Free radicals and tissue injury. Lab. Invest., 47: 412–426, 1982.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Williamson, J.M., Boettcher, B., and Meister, A.: Intracellular cysteine delivery system that protects against toxicity by promoting glutathione synthesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 79: 6246–6249, 1982.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Banerjee, S., Deb, C., and Belavady, B.: Effect of scurvy on glutathione and dehydroascorbic acid on guinea pig tissues. J. Biol. Chem., 195: 271–276, 1952.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Borsook, H., Davenport, H.W., Jeffreys, C.E.P., and Warner, R.C.: Oxidation of ascorbic acid and its reduction in vitro and in vivo. J. Biol. Chem., 117: 237–279, 1937.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. McDonald, L.C., Hackney, C.R., and Ray, B.: Enhanced recovery of injured Escherichia coli by compounds that degrade hydrogen peroxide or block its formation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 45: 360–365, 1983.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Snow, J.T., Finley, J.W., and Kohler, G.O.: A kinetic study of the bisuiphite reduction of methionine sulphoxide to methionine. J. Sci. Fd. Agric., 27: 649–654, 1976.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. MacKenzie, C.G. and Harris, J.: N-formyl-cysteine synthesis in mitochondria from formaldehyde and L-cysteine via thiazolidine-carboxylic acid. J. Biol. Chem., 227: 393–406, 1957.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Benevenga, N.J. and Harper, A.E.: Alleviation of methionine and homocysteine toxicity in the rat. J. Nutr. 93: 44–52, 1967.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bird, P.R.: Effect of nutrient toxicities in animals and man: sulfur, in CRC Handbook Series in Nutrition and Food, section E, vol. 1, edited by Rechcigl, M., Jr., West Palm Beach, Florida, CRC Press, 1978, pp. 153–175.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lippman, R.D.: Chemiluminescent measurement of free radicals and antioxidant molecular-protection insideliving rat-mitochondria. Exp. Geront., 15: 339–351, 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lippman, R.D.: The prolongation of life: A comparison of antioxidants and geroprotectors versus superoxide in human mitochondria. J. Geront., 36: 550–557, 1981.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kornejewa, T.S.: Die inhibitorische wirkung von L-zystein und methionin auf die amyloidbildung. Zschr. inn. Med., 25: 1084–1087, 1970.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hafeman, D.G. and Hoekstra, W.G.: Protection against carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat by dietary vitamin E, selenium and methionine as measured by ethane evolution. J. Nutr., 107: 656–665, 1977.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Rogers, A.E., Lenhart, G., and Morrison, G.: Influence of dietary lipotrope and lipid content on aflatoxin B1, N-2-fluorenylacetamide, and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine carcinogenesis in rats. Cancer Res., 40: 2802–2807, 1980.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Farber, E. and Ichinose, H.: The prevention of ethionine-induced carcinoma of the liver in rats by methionine. Cancer Res., 18: 1209–1213, 1958.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Massie, H.R. and Aiello, V.R.: The effect of dietary methionine on the copper content of tissues and survival of young and old mice. Exp. Geront., 19: 393–399, 1984.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Hunter, F.E. Jr., Scott, A., Hoffsten, P.E., Gebicki, J.M., Weinstein, J., and Schneider, A.: Studies on the mechanism of swelling, lysis, and disintegration of isolated liver mitochondria exposed to mixtures of oxidized and reduced glutathione. J. Biol. Chem., 239: 614–621, 1964.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Glatt, H., Protić-Sabljić, M., and Oesch, F.: Mutagenicity of glutathione and cysteine in the Ames test. Science, 220: 961–962, 1983.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Novi, A.M.: Regression of aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular carcinomas by reduced glutathione. Science, 212: 541–542, 1981.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Miquel, J., Fleming, J., and Economos, A.C.: Antioxidants, metabolic rate and aging in Drosophila. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr., 1: 159–165, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Massie, H.R., Aiello, V.R., and Williams, T.R.: Cadmium: temperature-dependent increase with age in Drosophila. Exp. Geront., 16: 337–341, 1981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Massie, H.R. and Williams, T.R.: Increased longevity of Drosophila melanogaster with lactic and gluconic acids. Exp. Geront., 4: 109–115. 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New York, 13504

    Harold R. Massie & Trevor Williams

Authors
  1. Harold R. Massie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Trevor Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Massie, H.R., Williams, T. Effect of sulfur-containing compounds on the life span of Drosophila . AGE 8, 128–135 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02431953

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02431953

Keywords

Search

Navigation