The transcription factor SKN-1 drives lysosomal enlargement during aging to maintain function.

ABSTRACT: Lysosomes are critical hubs for both cellular degradation and signal transduction, yet their function declines with age. Aging is also associated with significant changes in lysosomal morphology, but the physiological significance of these alterations remains poorly understood. Here, we find that a subset of aged lysosomes undergo enlargement resulting from lysosomal dysfunction in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Importantly, this enlargement is not merely a passive consequence of functional decline but represents an active adaptive response to preserve lysosomal degradation capacity. Blocking lysosomal enlargement exacerbates the impaired degradation of dysfunctional lysosomes. Mechanistically, lysosomal enlargement is a transcriptionally regulated process governed by the longevity t

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12694847 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature