Calorie restriction in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina.

Anne D van Diepeningen, S Marijke Slakhorst, A Bertha Koopmanschap, Gerjon J Ikink, Alfons J M Debets, Rolf F Hoekstra

Journal: Experimental gerontology 2010;45(7-8):516-24

PMID: 20064602

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Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR) is a regimen of reduced food intake that, although the underlying mechanism is unknown, in many organisms leads to life span extension. Podospora anserina is one of the few known ageing filamentous fungi and the ageing process and concomitant degeneration of mitochondria have been well-studied. CR in P. anserina increases not only life span but also forestalls the ageing-related decline in fertility. Here we review what is known about CR in P. anserina and about possibly involved mechanisms like enhanced mitochondrial stability, reduced production of reactive oxygen species and changes in the OXPHOS machinery. Additionally, we present new microscopic data on mitochondrial dynamics under rich nutritional and CR conditions at different points in life. Lines that have grown under severe CR for more than 50x the normal life span, show no accumulation of age-related damage, though fecundity is reduced in some of these lines. Finally, we discuss the possible role of CR in P. anserina in nature and the effect of CR at different points in life.

Address: Laboratory of Genetics, Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2010.01.002

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MeSH Terms: Biological Evolution, DNA, Fungal, DNA, Mitochondrial, Genetic Variation, Glucose, Lipofuscin, Mitochondria, Models, Biological, Phenotype, Plasmids, Podospora, Reactive Oxygen Species