Longevity of Indy mutant Drosophila not attributable to Indy mutation

Abstract

In their recent study in PNAS, Neretti et al. (1) identify mitochondrial defects in male Drosophila melanogaster that are heterozygous for the mutation Indy206. This allele lowers the expression of Indy, which encodes a Krebs cycle intermediate transporter and was previously proposed to increase adult fly lifespan (2). The authors propose an interesting model in which mitochondria work at lower rate but are present in greater density. This model results in unchanged ATP levels but less ROS production, potentially accounting for the longevity of this strain.