A comparative cellular and molecular biology of longevity database

Abstract

Discovering key cellular and molecular traits that promote longevity is a major goal of aging and longevity research. One experimental strategy is to determine which traits have been selected during the evolution of longevity in naturally long-lived animal species. This comparative approach has been applied to lifespan research for nearly four decades, yielding hundreds of datasets describing aspects of cell and molecular biology hypothesized to relate to animal longevity. Here, we introduce a Comparative Cellular and Molecular Biology of Longevity Database, available at ( http://genomics.brocku.ca/ccmbl/ ), as a compendium of comparative cell and molecular data presented in the context of longevity. This open access database will facilitate the meta-analysis of amalgamated datasets using standardized maximum lifespan (MLSP) data (from AnAge). The first edition contains over 800 data records describing experimental measurements of cellular stress resistance, reactive oxygen species metabolism, membrane composition, protein homeostasis, and genome homeostasis as they relate to vertebrate species MLSP. The purpose of this review is to introduce the database and briefly demonstrate its use in the meta-analysis of combined datasets.

Fig. 1

No correlation between average tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and a MLSP or b body mass in 26 mammalian and avian species. For each species (data point), a single mean SOD activity value was calculated from the heart, brain, and liver data reported in four studies (see main text)

Fig. 2

Membrane phospholipid peroxidation index (PI) is not correlated with a MLSP but is correlated with b body mass. For each species (data point), a single mean PI value was calculated from the heart, brain, and liver whole tissue or mitochondrial PI data reported for 25 mammalian and avian species in seven independent studies (see main text and CCMBL database)

Fig. 3

The relative rate at which UV-induced lesions are repaired in dermal fibroblasts is correlated with MLSP in 12 mammalian species (a; P < 0.0001). MLSP is highly correlated (P < 0.0005) with adult body mass in the same species (b). The apparent correlation in (a) is considerably weakened (P < 0.1) when effects of body mass are removed in an analysis of residuals (c). The rate of UV-induced lesion repair is correlated (P < 0.05) with species adult body mass (d). Data are from Cortopassi and Wang (1996) and are available in the CCMBL database (http://genomics.brocku.ca/ccmbl/). RRR rat relative repair

Fig. 4

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity is positively correlated (P < 0.0005) with MLSP in 13 mammalian species (a). In the same species, body mass and MLSP are highly correlated (b; P < 0.001). Residual analysis of the data in (a) to remove the effects of body mass considerably weakens the correlation (c; P < 0.01). Omission of the single human data point in (c) further weakens the correlation (d; P < 0.05). PARP activity is correlated (P < 0.005) with adult body mass (e). Data are from Grube and Burkle (1992) and are available in the CCMBL database (http://genomics.brocku.ca/ccmbl/)