Elucidation of the Role of FAM210B in Mitochondrial Metabolism and Erythropoiesis

Mitochondria play essential and specific roles during erythroid differentiation. Recently, FAM210B, encoding a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, has been identified as a novel target of GATA-1, as well as an erythropoietin-inducible gene. While FAM210B protein is involved in regulate mitochondrial metabolism and heme biosynthesis, its detailed function remains unknown. Here, we generated both knockout and knockdown of endogenous FAM210B in human induced pluripotent stem-derived erythroid progenitor (HiDEP) cells using CRISPR/Cas9 methodology. Intriguingly, erythroid differentiation was more pronounced in the FAM210B-depleted cells, and this resulted in increased frequency of orthochromatic erythroblasts and decreased frequencies of basophilic/polychromatic erythroblasts. Comprehensive metabolite analysis and functional analysis indicated that oxygen consumption rates and the NAD (NAD⁺)/NADH ratio were significantly decreased, while lactate production was significantly increased in FAM210B deletion HiDEP cells, indicating involvement of FAM210B in mitochondrial energy metabolism in erythroblasts. Finally, we purified FAM210B-interacting protein from K562 cells that stably expressed His/biotin-tagged FAM210B. Mass spectrometry analysis of the His/biotin-purified material indicated interactions with multiple subunits of mitochondrial ATP synthases, such as subunit alpha (ATP5A) and beta (ATP5B). Our results suggested that FAM210B contributes prominently to erythroid differentiation by regulating mitochondrial energy metabolism. Our results provide insights into the pathophysiology of dysregulated hematopoiesis.