Acetyl-l-carnitine protects yeast cells from apoptosis and aging and inhibits mitochondrial fission
Vanessa Palermo
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Piazzale Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorClaudio Falcone
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Piazzale Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorMenotti Calvani
Scientific Department, Sigma-Tau, Via Pontina Km. Pomezia, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Mazzoni
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Piazzale Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorVanessa Palermo
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Piazzale Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorClaudio Falcone
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Piazzale Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorMenotti Calvani
Scientific Department, Sigma-Tau, Via Pontina Km. Pomezia, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Mazzoni
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Piazzale Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
In this work we report that carnitines, in particular acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), are able to prolong the chronological aging of yeast cells during the stationary phase. Lifespan extension is significantly reduced in yca1 mutants as well in rho0 strains, suggesting that the protective effects pass through the Yca1 caspase and mitochondrial functions. ALC can also prevent apoptosis in pro-apoptotic mutants, pointing to the importance of mitochondrial functions in regulating yeast apoptosis and aging. We also demonstrate that ALC attenuates mitochondrial fission in aged yeast cells, indicating a correlation between its protective effect and this process. Our findings suggest that ALC, used as therapeutic for stroke, myocardial infarction and neurodegenerative diseases, besides the well-known anti-oxidant effects, might exert protective effects also acting on mitochondrial morphology.
Supporting Information
Fig. S1 CML39-11A (A) and MCY4/313Kllsm4Δ1 (lsm4Δ1, B) were grown in 0.2% glucose. Respiration rates are expressed as nanomoles of oxygen consumed per milliliter of solution per minute. Average and standard deviations, obtained from three independent experiments, are also indicated.
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