Loss of Mitochondrial DNA with Aging in Drosophila melanogaster

Authors:
  • HMH.R. Massie
    H.R. Massie
  • MBM.B. Baird
    M.B. Baird
  • MMM.M. McMahon
    M.M. McMahon
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Abstract
The buoyant densities of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from Drosophila melanogaster lysates has been found to show no change with increasing age in both CsCl and Cs2SO4 equilibrium density gradients. Whole fly homogenates were used to demonstrate no change in nuclear DNA content during adult life. Mitochondrial DNA increased from 1.2 to 4.3% of the total DNA during the first week of adult life and then decreased during senescence to a minimum of 1.5% at 10 weeks of age which represented a 65% loss in mitochondrial DNA content with age. These data are interpreted to support the proposal that mitochondria destruction occurs during senescence.