FIG. 1.

Copper depletion leads to an extension of life span. Fifteen P. anserina cultures of the wild-type strain derived from independent mononucleate ascospores were grown to senescence on cornmeal agar containing 10 μM BCS and 0.33 mM ascorbic acid or containing 30 μM BCS and 1 mM ascorbic acid or without supplements. Accordingly, 15 cultures of mutant grisea were grown on cornmeal agar. All cultures were grown in race tubes at 27°C in the light. A single culture of mutant ex1 has been growing in the laboratory on cornmeal agar plates for over 12 years without signs of senescence.