Linking epigenetics and metabolism in neurogenesis!

Epigenetic regulation and metabolism are tightly coordinated during progenitor cell growth but the processes linking this crosstalk is not well understood.

The researchers examined in neural stem cells the role of PHF8, a histone demethylase whose mutations are linked to Siderius-Hamel syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder.

The authors show that PHF8 regulates neural progenitor proliferation by coordinating epigenetic and metabolic programs and drives serine biosynthesis by maintaining chromatin accessibility of serine synthesis genes.

They also demonstrate that loss of PHF8 disrupts metabolism, autophagy, and vesicle formation and its deficiency leads to DNA damage and halts neurogenesis in vivo.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s44319-026-00713-8

https://sciencemission.com/Epigenetic-regulation-of-serine-biosynthesis