ZMAT3 alleviates cell death in Fanconi anemia via adaptation of sphingolipid metabolism

The molecular adaptations enabling cell survival under chronic stress remain poorly understood. This study investigates the role of ZMAT3, a p53 responsive RNA binding protein overexpressed in FA deficient cells, to elucidate its role in cellular adaptation.

Using FA patient fibroblasts and Fancg KO mouse models, we launched transcriptomic profiling, lipidomic, and functional analyses. RNA-seq and lipidomic analyses revealed unexpected alterations in sphingolipid metabolism upon ZMAT3 depletion, linked to ceramide accumulation and downregulation of ASAH1 (acid ceramidase). Functionally, ZMAT3 depletion increased DNA damage and enhanced ferroptosis susceptibility, an iron dependent cell death mechanism.