Retinol saturase in the mitochondria antagonizes IDH2 and GLUD1 acetylation to mediate heart repair

W Wenya Ma (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) Y Yanan Tian (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) J Jianglong Li (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) Q Qimeng Ouyang (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) L Lei Xu B Bowei Zhang (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) H Hongyang Chen (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) H Hanjing Li (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) Y Yuqing Lin (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) Y Yu Hu Z Zhongyu Ren (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) Y Yifu Shen (Department of Laboratory Medicine at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) X Xin Wang X Xinlu Gao (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University) X Xiuxiu Wang (School of Life Sciences) Y Yining Liu (State Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Y Ye Tian Y Yu Liu Z Zhenwei Pan (Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases), Harbin Medical University) B Benzhi Cai (Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University)

Abstract

Facilitating endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation has emerged as an important strategy for cardiac repair. Conserved retinol saturase (Retsat) functions in producing all-trans 13,14-dihydroretinol in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, Retsat’s role and mechanism in heart regeneration remain unclear. Here, we uncover that Retsat is upregulated in cardiomyocytes during cardiac regeneration in mice. Cardiomyocyte-specific Retsat knockin promotes cardiac regeneration and improves cardiac function after injury. Conversely, cardiomyocyte-specific knockout of Retsat inhibits heart regeneration in neonatal mice. Surprisingly, Retsat drives cardiomyocyte proliferation independently of its classical retinol saturase activity in the ER. Retsat also localizes in cardiomyocyte mitochondria, and mitochondrial-specific overexpression of Retsat can stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart repair after injury. Mechanistically, Retsat in the mitochondria acts as an antagonist of Idh2 and Glud1 acetylation, reducing their acetylation levels and enhancing their activities. Furthermore, Retsat enters mitochondria by interacting with Tom70 and Tim23 proteins. These data suggest that targeting Retsat is a promising strategy for promoting cardiac regeneration after heart injury.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 14
Published April 07, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (20)

W

Wenya Ma

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

Y

Yanan Tian

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

J

Jianglong Li

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

Q

Qimeng Ouyang

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

L

Lei Xu

B

Bowei Zhang

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

H

Hongyang Chen

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

H

Hanjing Li

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

Y

Yuqing Lin

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

Y

Yu Hu

Z

Zhongyu Ren

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

Y

Yifu Shen

Department of Laboratory Medicine at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

X

Xin Wang

X

Xinlu Gao

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University

X

Xiuxiu Wang

School of Life Sciences

Y

Yining Liu

State Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Y

Ye Tian

Y

Yu Liu

Z

Zhenwei Pan

Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases), Harbin Medical University

B

Benzhi Cai

Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University