Cell-based screen identifies translation state modulators that extend lifespan in D. melanogaster and C. elegans

Abstract

Aging is associated with declining mitochondrial function and translational regulation—processes modulated by interventions such as dietary restriction (DR) and cold-induced longevity (CHIL). Both DR and CHIL inhibit global protein synthesis but selectively enhance translation of proteins that support mitochondrial efficiency, stress resistance, and lifespan extension. These translational shifts are mediated, at least in part, by the 4E-BP/eIF4E pathway, which regulates translation according to mRNA 5’-untranslated region (5’-UTR) length and structure. To identify compounds that mimic the beneficial effects of DR/CHIL, we developed a cell-based phenotypic screen that reports on mRNA translation as a function of 5’-UTR length. A pilot screen identified compounds that preferentially increased the expression of mRNAs with short 5’-UTRs relative to those with long 5’-UTRs, and these hits were enriched for known lifespan-extending agents, such as curcumin and rapamycin. Among the novel candidates, fluspirilene significantly extended life in both Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, and mitigated age-related locomotor decline in female flies. Fluspirilene-mediated longevity in C. elegans required the DAF-16/FOXO and HLH-30/TFEB transcription factors and the autophagy gene, atg-18. Fluspirilene failed to extend lifespan in two other Caenorhabditis species, as well as in flies maintained on a high-yeast diet, indicating that its pro-longevity effects are constrained by evolutionary divergence and nutrient status. Together, our findings identify fluspirilene as a novel modulator of translation that extends life and preserves healthspan via an autophagy-dependent mechanism and support the promise of drug discovery efforts that modulate translation state as a therapeutic strategy for healthy aging.