Biochemical Approaches to Aging

Biochemical Approaches to Aging covers the significant research studies on the biochemical aspects of aging. This book is composed of 11 chapters that consider several factors that affect cellular aging. The opening chapters present some model systems for the study of aging using different species, including mammals, nematodes, insects, and protozoa. The succeeding chapters deal with the role of free radical formation, lipid peroxidation, membranes, mitochondria, microsomes, and lysosomes in aging. These topics are followed by discussions of the DNA and RNA changes during aging; the mechanism of protein metabolism; and the alternation of proteins and enzymes. The concluding chapters examine the effect of aging on hormonal interaction and the biochemical effects of nutrition in aging. This book will prove useful to gerontologists, cell and molecular biologists, and researchers.

PrefaceChapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 Model Systems for the Study of Aging I. Overview II. Mammalian Species III. Cells in Culture IV. Free-Living Nematodes V. Insects VI. Protozoa VII. Other VIII. Comment ReferencesChapter 3 Free Radicals, Age Pigments, and Lipid Metabolism I. Overview II. Free Radical Formation and Lipid Peroxidation III. Age Pigments IV. Antioxidants V. Metabolism of Lipids VI. Tissue Culture ReferencesChapter 4 Membranes I. Overview II. Lipid Composition III. Peroxidation of Membrane Lipids IV. Turnover V. Change in Other Membrane Components VI. Changes in Function VII. Changes in Membrane-Bound Enzymes VIII. Comment IX. Tissue Culture ReferencesChapter 5 Mitochondria, Microsomes, and Lysosomes I. Overview II. Mitochondria III. Microsomes IV. Lysosomes V. Tissue Culture ReferencesChapter 6 DNA I. Overview II. DNA Content III. Changes in DNA and Chromatin IV. Histones V. Modification of Histones and Non-Histone Proteins VI. Altered DNA VII. Other Types of DNA Damage VIII. DNA Repair IX. Excision Repair and Life-Span X. Gene Expression XI. DNA Polymerase XII. Tissue Culture XIII. Comment ReferencesChapter 7 RNA I. Overview II. RNA Content III. RNA Synthesis IV. RNA Polymerase V. RNA Turnover VI. tRNA VII. Tissue Culture ReferencesChapter 8 Protein Metabolism I. Overview II. Protein Turnover III. Protein Synthesis IV. Protein Metabolism in Tissue Culture ReferencesChapter 9 Enzymes and Altered Proteins I. Overview II. Enzyme Levels III. The Error Catastrophe Hypothesis IV. Fidelity of Protein Synthesis V. Altered Enzymes VI. Unaltered Enzymes VII. Contradictory Results VIII. Membrane-Bound Enzymes IX. Tissue Culture X. Enzymes in Red Blood Cells XI. Other Changes in Proteins ReferencesChapter 10 Hormones I. Overview II. Hormonal Interaction III. Glucocorticoids IV. Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) V. Catecholamines in Nonneural Tissues VI. Catecholamines in Neural Tissues VII. Metabolism of Other Neuroreceptors VIII. Glucagon IX. Insulin X. Pituitary Hormones XI. Thyroid Hormones XII. Testosterone XIII. Adaptive Response to Hormones XIV. Tissue Culture XV. Comment ReferencesChapter 11 Dietary Restriction I. Overview II. Hyponutrition and Life-Span III. Biochemical Effects V. Comment ReferencesEpilogueIndex