Fifteen years of Phormia — on the value of an insect for the study of aging

The blowfly Phormia is currently used for studying various aspects of aging. In the context of comparative life history studies this fly can be characterized as an example of an ‘r’ selected type with a short life span and explosive reproduction. This is in contrast to the mecopteran fly Panorpa which shows senescence even under free living conditions and represents the ‘K’ selected type. A sudden drop of flight performance, low levels of enzyme activities at the end of life and specific kinetic adaptations of single enzymes are part of the ‘aging syndrome’ of Phormia. In the context of general aging investigations Phormia proved to be a suitable model system. This is shown in several examples covering the age variation of oscillating glycolysis, the influence of the cell redox state on purified enzymes, and treatment with geriatrics.