Uncoupling of longevity and paraquat resistance in mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

To analyze the relationship between resistance to oxidative stress and longevity, we isolated three novel paraquat-resistant mutants, mev-5, mev-6, and mev-7, from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. They all showed the Dyf (defective in dye filling) phenotype, but not always resistance to heat or UV. Life-span extension was observed only in the mev-5 mutant at 26°C. These results indicate that longevity is uncoupled with the phenotype of paraquat resistance.