Woodruff R C, Nikitin A G
Department of Bioligical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, OH 43403, USA.
Mutat Res. 1995 Oct;338(1-6):35-42. doi: 10.1016/0921-8734(95)00009-u.
Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that P DNA element movement in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster induces genetic damage that significantly reduces lifespan. The lifespan of D. melanogaster males was significantly reduced by the somatic movement of a single P element in the presence of Pry+ delta 2-3 transposase. In addition, the Pry+ SalI repressor of Pry+ delta 2-3 somatic transposase was observed to reduce the effect of P element movement on lifespan. Finally, the frequency of somatic-cell chromosome breakage was significantly increased in neuroblasts of males with somatically active P elements. These results show that lifespan in D. melanogaster is decreased with increased somatic genetic damage from DNA-element movement. Although this conclusion does not confirm that transposable element movement is a cause of natural senescence, this conclusion is clear evidence in support of a close relationship between somatic genetic damage and aging.
果蝇体细胞中P DNA元件的移动会引发遗传损伤，从而显著缩短寿命。在Pry+ delta 2-3转座酶存在的情况下，单个P元件的体细胞移动会显著缩短黑腹果蝇雄性的寿命。此外，观察到Pry+ SalI对Pry+ delta 2-3体细胞转座酶的抑制作用可降低P元件移动对寿命的影响。最后，在具有体细胞活性P元件的雄性神经母细胞中，体细胞染色体断裂的频率显著增加。这些结果表明，黑腹果蝇的寿命会随着DNA元件移动导致的体细胞遗传损伤增加而缩短。虽然这一结论并未证实转座元件的移动是自然衰老的原因，但这一结论是支持体细胞遗传损伤与衰老之间密切关系的明确证据。
