Patterns of Change in Catalysis Activity as an Indicator of Aging in Drosophila Melanogaster

The rate of aging is believed to be dependent on temperature in poikilothermic organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. Furthermore, reduced lifespans result from accumulative and deleterious reactions of free radicals in elevated oxygen atmospheres. In this study, measurements of catalase, in extracts from individal males reared under carefully controlled conditions, showed characteristic and reproducible patterns of change over time. Daily measurements of individuals reared at two temperatures resulted in different patterns of change as a function of age, but definite similarities in catalase patterns were found with respect to maximum lifespan. This supports an indirect relationship between temperature and the rate of aging. An elevated oxygen atmosphere reduces longevity, but does not alter the temporal catalase pattern when compared to normal atmosphere. An observed pattern truncation provides evidence that elevated oxygen may not accelarate aging in D. melanogaster but reduces longevity by some other mechanism.