MAFF regulates ferroptotic sensitivity through iron homeostasis and fatty acid synthesis

Journal article

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation. In this study, we identify the transcription factor v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog F (MAFF) as a key regulator that promotes breast cancer progression while simultaneously sensitizing tumor cells to ferroptosis. Integrated RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing revealed that MAFF directly regulates genes involved in iron and fatty acid metabolism. MAFF enhances intracellular iron availability by transactivating SLC11A2 and NCOA4, expanding the labile iron pool essential for ferroptotic signaling. In parallel, MAFF represses CPT2, FASN, and SCD1, reprogramming lipid metabolism to favor the accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) over monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), thereby increasing lipid peroxidation susceptibility. These alterations reduce triglyceride (TG) levels and lipid droplet (LD) formation following ferroptosis induction. Functionally, MAFF-mediated repression of CPT2 diminishes fatty acid oxidation and enhances tumor invasion, underscoring a dual role whereby MAFF drives tumor progression yet primes cells for ferroptotic death. Collectively, our study identifies MAFF as a transcriptional switch linking iron homeostasis and lipid metabolism to ferroptotic vulnerability, highlighting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in basal-like breast cancer.

Authors: Vilaplana Lopera, N; Kim, J; Lee, PJ; Dubail, M; Aramaki, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
• Journal: Cell Death & Disease
• Publication date: 2026-05-28
• Acceptance date: 2026-05-14
• DOI: 10.1038/s41419-026-08885-w
• EISSN: 2041-4889
• ISSN: 2041-4889
• Language: English
• Keywords: Lipid droplet; Adipose triglyceride lipase; Cancer cell; Oncogene; Chromatin; Transcription factor; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Chromatin immunoprecipitation; Lipid metabolism; Fatty acid