A histone deacetylase 3 and mitochondrial complex I axis regulates toxic formaldehyde production.

Wit, Niek; Gogola, Ewa; West, James A; Vornbäumen, Tristan; Seear, Rachel V; Bailey, Peter S J; Burgos-Barragan, Guillermo; Wang, Meng et al. · Sci Adv · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Cells produce considerable genotoxic formaldehyde from an unknown source. We carry out a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screen in metabolically engineered HAP1 cells that are auxotrophic for formaldehyde to find this cellular source. We identify histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) as a regulator of cellular formaldehyde production. HDAC3 regulation requires deacetylase activity, and a secondary genetic screen identifies several components of mitochondrial complex I as mediators of this regulation. Metabolic profiling indicates that this unexpected mitochondrial requirement for formaldehyde detoxification is separate from energy generation. HDAC3 and complex I therefore control the abundance of a ubiquitous genotoxic metabolite.

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