LIN-39 is a neuron-specific developmental determinant of longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans with reduced insulin signaling
2025-07-16
The nuclear chromatin landscape changes with age. Here, we investigate whether chromatin alterations distinguish also animals with unusual aging rates, focusing on Caenorhabditis elegans with reduced insulin/IGF-like signaling (IIS), i.e., daf-2 mutants. In these animals, enhancer regions that close with age tend to open and become transcriptionally active. We identify LIN-39 as a transcription factor (TF) binding these regions and being required for the longevity of daf-2 mutants. LIN-39 acts during late development in hermaphrodite-specific VC motor neurons – at a time when these undergo maturation. LIN-39-mediated longevity requires DAF-16/FOXO, suggesting cooperation of both TFs in VC neurons to open enhancers. Our findings argue that longevity of daf-2 mutant hermaphrodites relies on a signal emitted by properly matured VC neurons, and due to its essential role in this maturation process LIN-39 becomes a rare example of a development-specific lifespan determinant.