The Biological basis of the aging process Authors Alba Naudí Farré Mariona Jové Font Daniel Cacabelos Barral E. Ilieva Jordi Boada Pallàs María Victoria Ayala Jove Manel Portero Otin Reinald Pamplona Gras Abstract The basic chemical process underlying aging was first put forward by the free radical theory of aging in 1956; the reaction of active free radicals (normally produced within an organism itself) with cellular constituents initiates the changes associated with aging. The involvement of free radicals in aging is related to their key role in the origin and evolution of life. The specific composition of tissue macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates) in long-lived animal species gives them an intrinsically high resistance to modification that probably contributes to the superior longevity of these species. Long-lived species also show low rates of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and oxidative damage to their mitochondria. Dietary restriction further decreases mitochondrial ROS production and oxidative molecular damage due to the decreased intake of dietary proteins. These effects of protein restriction seem to be specifically due to the lowered methionine intake of protein and dietary restricted animals. Both a low rate of generation of endogenous damage and an intrinsically high resistance to the modification of tissue macromolecules are key traits of animal longevity. Downloads Text complet (Català) PDF Published 2008-09-17 Issue 3-4 Section Research reviews License This work is subject, unless the contrary is indicated in the text, the photographs or in other illustrations, to an Attribution —Non-Commercial— No Derivative Works 3.0 Creative Commons License, the full text of which can be consulted at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/. You are free to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work provided that the author is credited and reuse of the material is restricted to non-commercial purposes only and that no derivative works are created from the original material.