Differential effect of Ca2+ on mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the aging brain

Abstract

Mitochondrial participation in cellular free radical generation constitutes more than 80% of the total. Free radicals tend to be harmful and cause oxidation of proteins and lipids in the cell and hence they are proposed as an important factor affecting aging. However, the antioxidant capacity to catapult oxidative stress in mitochondria is imminent to delay aging. More so, mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration has some profound effect on ROS production and detoxification. In the current study, we have investigated the effect of Ca2+ on age-related alterations in antioxidant enzymes like sodium dismutase and catalase activities. The spectro-photometric measurement of both sodium dismutase and catalase has shown a differential response to Ca2+. Sodium dismutase has shown a downward trend in activity for varying concentrations of Ca2+ treatment in aging while catalase has not shown much deviation in its activity levels, except for a small rise in aged animals. Thus, Ca2+ seems to be differentially affecting the activity of two antioxidant enzymes in the mitochondrial isolate.