Asymmetric Arginine Dimethylation Determines Life Span in C. elegans by Regulating Forkhead Transcription Factor DAF-16

Arginine methylation is a widespread posttranslational modification of proteins catalyzed by a family of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). It is well established that PRMTs are implicated in various cellular processes, but their physiological roles remain unclear. Using nematodes with a loss-of-function mutation, we show that prmt-1, the major asymmetric arginine methyltransferase, is a positive regulator of longevity in C. elegans. This regulation is dependent on both its enzymatic activity and DAF-16/FoxO transcription factor, which is negatively regulated by AKT-mediated phosphorylation downstream of the DAF-2/insulin signaling. prmt-1 is also required for stress tolerance and fat storage but not dauer formation in daf-2 mutants. Biochemical analyses indicate that PRMT-1 methylates DAF-16, thereby blocking its phosphorylation by AKT. Disruption of PRMT-1 induces phosphorylation of DAF-16 with a concomitant reduction in the expression of longevity-related genes. Thus, we provide a mechanism by which asymmetric arginine dimethylation acts as an antiaging modification in C. elegans. ► PRMT-1 is the predominant type I protein arginine methyltransferase in C. elegans ► PRMT-1 controls life span depending on both DAF-16 and its enzymatic activity ► PRMT-1 is also involved in stress tolerance and fat storage, but not dauer arrest ► PRMT-1-induced methylation of DAF-16 blocks its phosphorylation by AKT