Clec16a maintains definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells via mitophagy

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) arise from hemogenic endothelium via the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT), a process requiring precise mitochondrial quality control. Here, we identify Clec16a, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a conserved regulator of embryonic HSPC emergence. In zebrafish and HEK293T models, Clec16a is enriched in hemogenic endothelium, and its loss disrupts arterial identity, impairs EHT, and reduces lymphoid, erythroid, and myeloid lineages. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses show that Clec16a deficiency compromises mitophagy by promoting aberrant K48-linked ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of ATG5, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated reactive oxygen species. These findings establish Clec16a as an essential regulator linking ubiquitin signaling, mitophagy, and hematopoietic fate specification. Our study defines a mitophagy-dependent checkpoint that safeguards mitochondrial homeostasis during developmental hematopoiesis and provides insight into the metabolic control of hematopoietic disorders.

Keywords: Atg5; CP: metabolism; CP: stem cell research; Clec16a; USP8; hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell; mitophagy; non-degradative ubiquitination; zebrafish.