What are people’s thoughts on this… (@John_Hemming and others who are knowledgeable about this area)…
In Science this week:
Cells produce considerable genotoxic formaldehyde from an unknown source. We carry out a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screen in metabolically engineered HAP1 cells that are auxotrophic for formaldehyde to find this cellular source. We identify histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) as a regulator of cellular formaldehyde production. HDAC3 regulation requires deacetylase activity, and a secondary genetic screen identifies several components of mitochondrial complex I as mediators of this regulation. Metabolic profiling indicates that this unexpected mitochondrial requirement for formaldehyde detoxification is separate from energy generation. HDAC3 and complex I therefore control the abundance of a ubiquitous genotoxic metabolite.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg2235
One person’s (Biochem professor) interpretation of this research:
SAMe is important to manage 1 carbon metabolism. Its level drops substantially after puberty and must be taken as a supplement to maintain health. Otherwise, formaldehyde becomes a toxic substance in your body, damaging histones and DNA methylation.