Lysosomes signal through the epigenome to regulate longevity across generations

Science. 2025 Sep 25;389(6767):1353-1360. doi: 10.1126/science.adn8754. Epub 2025 Sep 25.

Abstract

The epigenome is sensitive to metabolic inputs and is crucial for aging. Lysosomes act as a signaling hub to sense metabolic cues and regulate longevity. We found that lysosomal metabolic pathways signal through the epigenome to regulate transgenerational longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Activation of lysosomal lipid signaling and lysosomal adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or reduction of lysosomal mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling increased the expression of a histone H3.3 variant and increased its methylation on K79, leading to life-span extension across multiple generations. This transgenerational prolongevity effect required intestine-to-germline transportation of histone H3.3 and a germline-specific H3K79 methyltransferase and was recapitulated by overexpressing H3.3 or the H3K79 methyltransferase. Thus, signals from a lysosome affect the epigenome and link the soma and germ line to mediate transgenerational inheritance of longevity.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans* / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans* / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans* / physiology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Epigenome*
  • Germ Cells / metabolism
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Histones* / genetics
  • Histones* / metabolism
  • Longevity* / genetics
  • Lysosomes* / metabolism
  • Methylation
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Histones
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase