Fig. 2.

Early-life mtDNA damage results in deficient mitochondrial respiration and decreased ATP per oxygen consumption. A. Basal respiratory rates were significantly increased in UVC-exposed nematodes at 4 days post-exposure, but not at 8 days. B. Maximal respiration was unchanged between control and UVC-treated groups but decreased with age. C. ATP-linked respiration rates were significantly increased in UVC-exposed nematodes at 4 days post-exposure. D. Spare capacity was significantly decreased in UVC-exposed animals 4 days after exposure and returned to control levels by 8 days post-exposure. E. Non mitochondrial oxygen consumption was significantly higher in UVC-exposed animals compared to control animals at 8 days post-exposure. F. No differences in proton leak were observed. For data shown in A–F: Data are presented as mean with error bars representing the standard error. Open circles are individual data points (2–4 independent experiments, n = 7–8 per group per experiment). Letters show which groups are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). Two-way ANOVA with Tukey's correction for multiple comparisons. A UVC exposure of 2 J/m² was used in panels C and F because these experiments were performed at a later date. This exposure level produced the same growth inhibition as characterized in the paper. G. UVC exposure leads to a trend of reduced steady-state ATP in glp-1 (q244). Two-way ANOVA with Tukey's correction for multiple comparisons. n = 3 per group. H. The ratio of ATP per oxygen consumed was calculated by dividing the average steady-state ATP value by the average basal respiration value for each group.