GEOapplication/xmlftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/series/GSE294nnn/GSE294929/primaryOK200TranscriptomicsCaenorhabditis elegansExpression profiling by high throughput sequencinghttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE294929GEOGSEfalseMitochondrial stress activates ELT-2-dependent lysosomal proteostasis to extend lifespan in C. elegansMild 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 Caenorhabditis elegans. 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 (UPRmt) to counteract aging. Furthermore, increased lysosomal activity, as well as the lysosomal proteases CPR-5 and CPR-8, are 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.2026/05/15GSE294929GSM8930529GSM8930539GSM8930528GSM8930527GSM8930538GSM8930537GSM8930526GSM8930536GSM8930525GSM8930524GSM8930546GSM8930535GSM8930545GSM8930534GSM8930523GSM8930544GSM8930533GSM8930532GSM8930543GSM8930542GSM8930531GSM8930541GSM8930530GSM893054025145294929Caenorhabditis elegans