CENTENARIAN SPECIES AND ROCKFISH PROJECT





J.C. Guerin (*), Director, Portland, OR; R.A. Floyd, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK; A.M. Cuervo, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; G.M. Cailliet, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA; B.V. Zlokovic, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.

Mr. John C. Guerin, Director
Centenarian Species and Rockfish Project
4424 N.E. 83rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 975-4915
ba182@LAFN.ORG




We propose it is urgent for Gerontology to study extreme
longevity in animals. Using age validation techniques
including otolith, radiometric and tagging, rockfish,
sturgeon and turtles have been documented to live over 150
years. But these animals are not only long-lived, they do
not appear to exhibit characteristics of aging, such as
reduced reproductive activity and output, even at the oldest
ages. Thus, they exhibit "negligible senescence" - a
chronological lifespan without increased mortality. The
four pilot studies presented at last year's AGE meeting were
histology, oxidative damage, anion exchange proteins and
telomerase expression.
There are four more pilot studies to present at this meeting:
Robert A. Floyd analyed tocopherol derivatives in rockfish
brain and heart up to 83 years old and found unpredicted
differences in two comparions. In gamma over alpha tocopherol
and 5-nitro gamma over total gamma, brain tissue showed a
positive correlation with age or no trend, respectively,
while heart tissue showed an inverse relationship with both.
His next test will be on tyrosine derivatives.
Ana Mario Cuervo analyzed levels and activity of several
lysosomal components in liver to determine if increased
protein turnover might contribute to proper removal of
damaged proteins. In addition, she compared substrate
proteins and zymograms for specific protease activities.
She concluded there were not significant differences in the
activity of proteases between age groups, suggesting that
the normal levels of protein degradation found in the oldest
animals results directly from the normal functioning of
their proteolytic systems.
Gregor M. Cailliet is collecting both long-lived and short-
lived rockfish blood serum samples for biochemical profiling.
When completed, this will establish a baseline of about 135
biochemical parameters, including cardiovascular function,
oxidative stress and a comprehensive vitamin/mineral profile.
Berislav V. Zlokovic is investigating the genome of long-
lived rockfish by making a cDNA library from brain tissue,
including the use of subtractive hybridization.
Future studies includes full-length research of these pilot
studies, and comparing long-lived and short-lived rockfish
with other species such as turtles and whales.






Key words: rockfish, negligible senescence, biochemical profiling, genome, lysosomes







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