The mitochondrial unfolded protein response and increased longevity: Cause, consequence, or correlation?

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response is a conserved pathway that allows mitochondrial chaperones and other factors to be induced in response to mitochondrial dysfunction. Activation of this pathway has been proposed to underlie lifespan extension from knockdown or mutation of several nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. In some cases, however, induction of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response is associated...