# Role of Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Animal Aging

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $319,800

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been implicated in aging and numerous age-onset diseases.
Therefore, identifying interventions that can be applied in aged animals to improve mitochondrial homeostasis
would be highly desirable towards the goal of prolonging healthspan. Mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) is
an autophagic quality control mechanism that removes dysfunctional mitochondria. Recently, we identified
novel roles for Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that functions to promote mitophagy, in the modulation of
Drosophila aging. Recent evidence indicates that Parkin interacts with the mitochondrial fission/fusion
machinery to mediate the turnover of dysfunctional mitochondria. Indeed, we have shown that the anti-aging
effects of Parkin are associated with a shift in mitochondrial dynamics towards increased fission. Moreover,
we have now discovered that up-regulating Drp1, a Dynamin-related protein that catalyzes mitochondrial
fission, for a limited period of time in mid-life is sufficient to prolong lifespan and healthspan. Furthermore, we
show that up-regulation of Drosophila p62, an autophagy adaptor reported to mediate mitophagy, in mid-life
also slows organismal aging. In characterizing alterations in mitochondrial dynamics during aging, we find that
a mid-life shift towards mitochondrial fusion is linked to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria.
Remarkably, we have discovered that short-term induction of Drp1, in mid-life, restores mitochondrial
morphology and function to a youthful state.
 In recent years, a number of drugs that increase lifespan in mammals have been identified. However,
long-term treatment with any drug can cause deleterious side effects. Therefore, it would be advantageous to
identify the cellular mechanisms that mediate the anti-aging effects and/or identify transient interventions that
can induce these cellular changes. Here, we show that feeding the putative anti-aging drug metformin, for a
limited period of time to aged flies, activates Drp1 and induces mitochondrial fission in vivo.
Here, we propose to build upon these groundbreaking discoveries by exploring three specific aims:
 1) To examine the mechanisms by which a mid-life shift towards mitochondrial fission promotes healthy
aging, 2) To examine the mechanisms by which mid-life induction of p62 promotes healthy aging, and 3) To
examine the relationships between evolutionarily conserved anti-aging interventions including metformin,
mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy.
 The work proposed herein will provide fundamental insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms
of aging. At the same time, our studies may provide new therapeutic approaches, that can be applied for a
limited period of time in mid- to late-life, to delay the onset and progression of aging and associated diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10188349
- **Project number:** 5R01AG037514-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** David W Walker
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $319,800
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-07-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10188349

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10188349, Role of Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Animal Aging (5R01AG037514-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10188349. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*