Mouse model for aging

1. A transgenic mouse model for mouse aging comprising a mouse having a targeted site-directed mutation in the exonuclease domain II of the endogenous mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma gene, wherein said targeted site-directed mutation is the substitution of an aspartic acid residue to an alanine residue at position 257 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein said mutation results in an elevated mitochondrial mutation frequency in at least two tissues in said mouse model.

2. The mouse model of claim 1 wherein the exonuclease domain mutation results in the expression of a DNA proof-reading deficient version of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (Polg) gene and accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations in both mitotic and post-mitotic mouse tissues, which is correlated with the activation of caspase-3 and the induction of apoptosis in mouse tissues.

3. The mouse model of claim 1 wherein the mouse exhibits symptoms of accelerated or premature aging compared to a mouse not having the mutation in the exonuclease domain of the Polg gene.

4. The mouse model of claim 1 wherein the aging symptoms are selected from the group consisting of abnormalities in tissues of high cellular turnover, heart dysfunction, graying hair and alopecia, auditory function loss, cochlear degeneration, immune cell loss, anemia, male germ cell loss leading to lack of sperm and infertility, skeletal muscle mass loss neurodegeneration, increased presence of apoptotic markers, and loss of bone mass.

5. A method of screening for a potentially therapeutic agent useful for delaying the onset of aging-related symptoms, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a mouse model of claim 1 , wherein the mouse exhibits aging-related symptoms;

(b) administering the agent to the mouse model; and

(c) determining whether the agent is capable of delaying the onset of aging-related symptoms in the mouse model treated with the agent compared to an untreated mouse model.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the aging-related symptoms are selected from the group consisting of abnormalities in tissues of high cellular turnover, heart dysfunction, graying hair and alopecia, auditory function loss, cochlear degeneration, immune cell loss, anemia, male germ cell loss leading to lack of sperm and infertility, skeletal muscle mass loss, bone loss, neurodegeneration and increased presence of apoptotic stress markers.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the age-related symptoms are selected from the group consisting of altered hearing function, altered heart function, loss of bone, loss of muscle mass and induction of apoptosis.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the therapeutic agent is a genetically-, a pharmaceutical- or a dietary-based agent.

9. A method of screening for a potentially therapeutic agent useful for treating medical conditions comprising progressive external ophthalmoplegia, sensorimotor polyneuropathy, ataxia, Parkinson's syndrome or early menopause defined by mitochondrial DNA mutations in a POLG gene, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a mouse model of claim 1 , wherein the mouse exhibits symptoms of progressive external ophthalmoplegia sensorimotor polyneuropathy, ataxia, Parkinson's syndrome or early menopause;

(b) administering the agent to the mouse model; and

(c) determining whether the agent is capable of improving symptoms for any of the medical conditions of step (a) in the mouse model treated with the agent compared to an untreated mouse model.