Endosomal trafficking protein TBC-2 isrequired for the longevity of long-livedmitochondrial mutants

Abstract

Mutations that result in a mild impairment of mitochondrial function can extend longevity. Previous studies have shown that the increase in lifespan is dependent on stress responsive transcription factors, including DAF-16/FOXO, which exhibits increased nuclear localization in long-lived mitochondrial mutants. We recently found that the localization of DAF-16 within the cell is dependent on the endosomal trafficking protein TBC-2. Based on the important role of DAF-16 in both longevity and resistance to stress, we examined the effect of disrupting tbc-2 on lifespan and stress resistance in the long-lived mitochondrial mutants nuo-6 and isp-1 in C. elegans. Loss of tbc-2 markedly reduced the long lifespans of both mitochondrial mutants. Disruption of tbc-2 also decreased resistance to specific exogenous stressors in nuo-6 and isp-1 mutants. In contrast, tbc-2 inhibition had no effect on oxidative stress resistance or lifespan in isp-1 worms when DAF-16 is absent suggesting that the effect of tbc-2 on mitochondrial mutant lifespan may be mediated by mislocalization of DAF-16. However, this result is complicated by the fact that deletion of daf-16 markedly decreases both phenotypes in isp-1 worms. Surprisingly, disruption of tbc-2 did not prevent the upregulation of DAF-16 target genes in the long-lived mitochondrial mutants, suggesting the possibility that the effect of tbc-2 on lifespan and stress resistance in the long-lived mitochondrial mutants is at least partially independent of its effects on DAF-16 localization. Overall, this work demonstrates the importance of endosomal trafficking for the extended longevity and enhanced stress resistance resulting from mild impairment of mitochondrial function.