Mitochondrial stress activates ELT-2-dependent lysosomal proteostasis to extend lifespan in <i>C. elegans</i>.

Abstract

Mild mitochondrial stress could extend lifespan across species, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that inhibition of mitochondrial respiration induces a sustained transcriptional program that enhances lysosomal proteolysis during aging in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. Mechanistically, this response is primarily regulated by the intestinal GATA transcription factor ELT-2, which retains high expression and directly binds to GATA motifs in the promoters of lysosomal protease genes to promote their transcriptional activation. Moreover, we identified R249 within the conserved zinc-finger DNA binding domain of ELT-2 as a key residue required for its transcriptional activity. Notably, this mitochondrion-ELT-2-lysosome axis operates largely independently of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) to counteract aging. Furthermore, increased lysosomal activity, as well as the lysosomal proteases CPR-5 and CPR-8, is essential for mitochondrial stress-induced clearance of toxic polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregates and lifespan extension. Together, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized ELT-2-dependent lysosomal proteostasis pathway that acts downstream of mitochondrial stress to maintain protein homeostasis and promote longevity.