Increased mitochondrial fusion allows the survival of older animals in diverse C. elegans longevity pathways

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo fusion and fission events. Mitochondrial dynamics are required for mitochondrial viability and for responses to changes in bioenergetic status. Here we describe an insulin-signaling and SCF(LIN-23)-regulated pathway that controls mitochondrial fusion in Caenorhabditis elegans by repressing the expression of the mitochondrial proteases SPG-7 and PPGN-1. This pathway is required for mitochondrial fusion in response to physical exertion, and for the associated extension in lifespan. We show that diverse longevity pathways exhibit increased levels of elongated mitochondria. The increased mitochondrial fusion is essential for longevity in the diverse longevity pathways, as inhibiting mitochondrial fusion reduces their lifespans to wild-type levels. Our results suggest that increased mitochondrial fusion is not a major driver of longevity, but rather is essential to allow the survival of older animals beyond their normal lifespan in diverse longevity pathways.