UCLA

Disruptions to iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters, essential cofactors for a broad range of proteins, cause widespread cellular defects resulting in human disease. A source of damage to Fe-S clusters is cuprous (Cu¹⁺) ions. Since histone H3 enzymatically produces Cu¹⁺ for copper-dependent functions, we asked whether this activity could become detrimental to Fe-S clusters. Here, we report that histone H3–mediated Cu¹⁺ toxicity is a major determinant of cellular functional pool of Fe-S clusters. Inadequate Fe-S cluster supply, due to diminished assembly as occurs in Friedreich’s ataxia or defective distribution, causes severe metabolic and growth defects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Decreasing Cu¹⁺ abundance, through attenuation of histone cupric reductase activity or depletion of total cellular copper, restored Fe-S cluster–dependent metabolism and growth. Our findings reveal an interplay between chromatin and mitochondria in Fe-S cluster homeostasis and a potential pathogenic role for histone enzyme activity and Cu¹⁺ in diseases with Fe-S cluster dysfunction.