The transcriptional coactivator CBP/p300 is an evolutionarily conserved node that promotes longevity in response to mitochondrial stress

Organisms respond to mitochondrial stress by activating multiple defense pathways including the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR(mt)). However, how UPR(mt) regulators are orchestrated to transcriptionally activate stress responses remains largely unknown. Here we identified CBP-1, the worm ortholog of the mammalian acetyltransferases CBP/p300, as an essential regulator of the UPR(mt), as well as mitochondrial stress-induced immune response, reduction of amyloid-β aggregation and lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mechanistically, CBP-1 acts downstream of histone demethylases, JMJD-1.2/JMJD-3.1, and upstream of UPR(mt) transcription factors including ATFS-1, to systematically induce a broad spectrum of UPR(mt) genes and execute multiple beneficial functions. In mouse and human populations, transcript levels of CBP/p300 positively correlate with UPR(mt) transcripts and longevity. Furthermore, CBP/p300 inhibition disrupts, while forced expression of p300 is sufficient to activate, the UPR(mt) in mammalian cells. These results highlight an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that determines mitochondrial stress response, and promotes health and longevity through CBP/p300.