Why do bats live so long?-Possible molecular mechanisms.

Contrasting with several theories of ageing, bats are mammals with remarkable longevity despite their high metabolic rate, living on average three times more than other mammals of equal size. The question of how bats live a long time has attracted considerable attention, and they have thus been related to immortal fantasy characters like Dracula in the novel by Bram Stoker. Several ecological and physiological features, such as reduction in mortality risks, delayed sexual maturation and hibernation, have been linked to bats' long lifespan. However, there is still very little information about the molecular mechanisms associated with the longevity of bats. In this regard, the present work tries to summarize current knowledge about how bats can live for so long, taking into consideration nutritional factors, oxidative metabolism, protein homeostasis, stress resistance, DNA repair, mitochondrial physiology and cancer resistance.