The Rab GTPase activating protein TBC-2 regulates endosomal localization of DAF-16 FOXO and lifespan

PLoS Genet. 2022 Aug 1;18(8):e1010328. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010328. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Abstract

FOXO transcription factors have been shown to regulate longevity in model organisms and are associated with longevity in humans. To gain insight into how FOXO functions to increase lifespan, we examined the subcellular localization of DAF-16 in C. elegans. We show that DAF-16 is localized to endosomes and that this endosomal localization is increased by the insulin-IGF signaling (IIS) pathway. Endosomal localization of DAF-16 is modulated by endosomal trafficking proteins. Disruption of the Rab GTPase activating protein TBC-2 increases endosomal localization of DAF-16, while inhibition of TBC-2 targets, RAB-5 or RAB-7 GTPases, decreases endosomal localization of DAF-16. Importantly, the amount of DAF-16 that is localized to endosomes has functional consequences as increasing endosomal localization through mutations in tbc-2 reduced the lifespan of long-lived daf-2 IGFR mutants, depleted their fat stores, and DAF-16 target gene expression. Overall, this work identifies endosomal localization as a mechanism regulating DAF-16 FOXO, which is important for its functions in metabolism and aging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Longevity* / genetics
  • Mutation
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Insulin
  • TBC-2 protein, C elegans
  • daf-16 protein, C elegans
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins