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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Imaging and Quantifying Mitochondrial Morphology in C. elegans During Aging
Published on: January 17, 2025
The vacuolar shapes of ageing: From function to morphology
Andreas Aufschnaiter1, Sabrina Büttner2
1Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstraße 50, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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Cellular ageing results in accumulating damage to various macromolecules and the progressive decline of organelle function. Yeast vacuoles as well as their counterpart in higher eukaryotes, the lysosomes, emerge as central organelles in lifespan determination. These acidic organelles integrate enzymatic breakdown and recycling of cellular waste with nutrient sensing, storage, signalling and mobilization. Establishing physical contact with virtually all other organelles, vacuoles serve as hubs of cellular homeostasis. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae contributed substantially to our understanding of the ageing process per se and the multifaceted roles of vacuoles/lysosomes in the maintenance of cellular fitness with progressing age. Here, we discuss the multiple roles of the vacuole during ageing, ranging from vacuolar dynamics and acidification as determinants of lifespan to the function of this organelle as waste bin, recycling facility, nutrient reservoir and integrator of nutrient signalling.
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