Abstract
The universal end product of aging is the intracellular accumulation of lipofuscin or “age pigment.” Free radical formation plays an important role in this process. Hydrogen peroxide is a focal point in the initiation of cytotoxic hydroxyl free radicals. We have, therefore, studied the role of the main enzymes responsible for the radicals generated from excess hydrogen peroxide. Peroxidase, catalase, and peroxide levels were measured in Drosophila melanogaster from eclosure up to 100 days. A decreasing curve was found for both enzymes while peroxide levels increased with age. This was true for both males and females. However, peroxidase showed a more pronounced decrease with age as compared with catalase. Total peroxidase activity was found to be 1.6 times greater than catalase. Increasing peroxide levels corresponded more with the declining peroxidase values than with catalase values.
These data suggest for the first time, that many of the free radicals generated as a result of aging, can be accounted for by the decrease of enzymes, specifically peroxidase.
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Armstrong, D., Rinehart, R., Dixon, L. et al. Changes of peroxidase with age in drosophila. AGE 1, 8–12 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02432020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02432020