Aging is accompanied by a gradual deterioration of cell functions. Mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of protein damage have been proposed to contribute to this process. The present study was carried out to examine the effects of aging in mitochondrial matrix isolated from rat liver. The activity of Lon protease, an enzyme implicated in the degradation of abnormal matrix proteins, was meas-ured and the accumulation of oxidation and glycoxidation (N e -carboxymethyllysine, CML) products was monitored using immunochemical assays
