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Lipids of mitochondria in fibroblasts and their nexus to life history in temperate and tropical birds

Calhoon, Elisabeth Ann
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306866847

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Life history attributes often fall along a “slow-fast” continuum. Temperate birds are thought to have a fast pace of life whereas tropical birds have a slow pace of life. In support of this idea, tropical birds have lower metabolic rate, invest fewer resources in reproduction, and have higher adult survival rates compared with temperate birds. These organismal differences may be rooted in differences in the cellular level, a hypothesis in need of testing. Here, I cultured fibroblasts of phylogenetically-paired tropical and temperate species, isolated mitochondria from each, and compared their mitochondrial membrane lipids. I found that mitochondria from tropical species had higher amounts of lipids that could serve as an antioxidant, especially plasmalogens. Additionally, multiple proxies for amount of mitochondria suggested that large tropical species have fewer mitochondria than large temperate ones, whereas small tropical and temperate species have similar amounts. I examined the lethal dose of xenobiotics required to kill 50% of fibroblast cells (LD50) from tropical and temperate species and related LD50 to lipid composition of mitochondrial membranes. I found that lipids associated with preventing oxidative damage, such as plasmalogens, or with anti-apoptotic signaling were correlated with increased cellular stress resistance, whereas lipids that were associated with pro-apoptotic signaling were correlated with decreased stress resistance. These findings suggest that mitochondrial lipid composition could play an important role in cellular stress resistance and senescence.
Joseph B. Williams, PhD (Advisor)
Marianne S. Jurkowitz, PhD (Committee Member)
W. Mitchell Masters, PhD (Committee Member)
65 p.
Aging; Biochemistry; Biology; Physiology; Zoology
plasmalogen; sphingomyelin; tropical; senescence; mitochondria

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Calhoon, E. A. (2011). Lipids of mitochondria in fibroblasts and their nexus to life history in temperate and tropical birds [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306866847

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Calhoon, Elisabeth. Lipids of mitochondria in fibroblasts and their nexus to life history in temperate and tropical birds. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306866847.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Calhoon, Elisabeth. "Lipids of mitochondria in fibroblasts and their nexus to life history in temperate and tropical birds." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306866847

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1306866847
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.