Proteome alterations in rat mitochondria caused by aging

Analysis of the protein profile of mitochondria and its age-dependent variation is a promising approach to unravel mechanisms involved in aging and age-related diseases. Our studies focus on the mammalian mitochondrial membrane proteome, especially of the inner mitochondrial membrane with the respiratory chain complexes and other proteins possibly involved in life-span control and aging. Variations of the mitochondrial proteome during aging, with the emphasis on the abundance, composition, structure, and activity of membrane proteins, are examined in various rat tissues by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques in combination with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In rat brain, age-modulated differences in the abundance of various mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial proteins, such as Na,K,V-ATPase, HSP60, mitochondrial aconitase-2, V-type ATPase, MF0F1 ATP synthase, and the OXPHOS complexes I-IV are detected. During aging, a decrease in the amount of intact MF0F1 ATP synthase occurs in the cortex. As analytical technique, native PAGE separates not only individual proteins but also multi-subunit (membrane) proteins, (membrane) protein supercomplexes as well as interacting proteins in their native state. It reveals the occurrence and architecture of supramolecular assemblies of proteins. The age-related alterations in the oligomerization of the MF0F1 ATP synthase observed by us in rat cortex might be one clue for understanding the link between respiration and longevity. Also, the abundance of OXPHOS supercomplexes, that is, the natural assemblies of the respiratory complexes I, III, and IV into supramolecular stoichiometric entities, such as I1III2IV0-4, can differ between young and aged cortex tissue. Age-related changes in the supramolecular architecture of OXPHOS complexes might explain alterations in ROS production during aging.