Local coordination of mRNA storage and degradation near mitochondria modulates C. elegans ageing

Abstract Mitochondria are central regulators of healthspan and lifespan, yet the intricate choreography of multiple, tightly controlled steps regulating mitochondrial biogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we uncover a pivotal role for specific elements of the 5′‐3′ mRNA degradation pathway in the regulation of mitochondrial abundance and function. We find that the mRNA degradation and the poly‐A tail deadenylase CCR4‐NOT complexes form distinct foci in somatic Caenorhabditis elegans cells that physically and functionally associate with mitochondria. Components of these two multi‐subunit complexes bind transcripts of nuclear‐encoded mitochondria‐targeted proteins to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis during ageing in an opposite manner. In addition, we show that balanced degradation and storage of mitochondria‐targeted protein mRNAs are critical for mitochondrial homeostasis, stress resistance and longevity. Our findings reveal a multifaceted role of mRNA metabolism in mitochondrial biogenesis and show that fine‐tuning of mRNA turnover and local translation control mitochondrial abundance and promote longevity in response to stress and during ageing.