Vitamin B5, a coenzyme A precursor, rescues TANGO2 deficiency disease‐associated defects in Drosophila and human cells

• Published in: Journal of inherited metabolic disease Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 358 - 368
• Main Authors: Asadi, Paria, Milev, Miroslav P., Saint‐Dic, Djenann, Gamberi, Chiara, Sacher, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2023; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiomyopathy; Coenzyme A; Coenzyme A - genetics; Deficiency diseases; Drosophila; Drosophila - genetics; Drosophila - metabolism; Drosophila melanogaster; Golgi apparatus; Homeostasis; Humans; Insects; Lipid metabolism; membrane traffic; Membrane trafficking; metabolic crisis; Metabolism; neurodevelopment; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Pantothenic Acid - genetics; Pantothenic Acid - metabolism; Phenotype; Rhabdomyolysis; TANGO2; vitamin B5; Vitamin deficiency; metabolic crisis; neurodevelopment; Drosophila; TANGO2; vitamin B5; membrane traffic; coenzyme A
• ISSN: 0141-8955; 1573-2665
• DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12579

Mutations in the Transport and Golgi Organization 2 (TANGO2) gene are associated with intellectual deficit, neurodevelopmental delay and regression. Individuals can also present with an acute metabolic crisis that includes rhabdomyolysis, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac arrhythmias, the latter of which are potentially lethal. While preventing metabolic crises has the potential to reduce mortality, no treatments currently exist for this condition. The function of TANGO2 remains unknown but is suspected to be involved in some aspect of lipid metabolism. Here, we describe a model of TANGO2‐related disease in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that recapitulates crucial disease traits. Pairing a new fly model with human cells, we examined the effects of vitamin B5, a coenzyme A (CoA) precursor, on alleviating the cellular and organismal defects associated with TANGO2 deficiency. We demonstrate that vitamin B5 specifically improves multiple defects associated with TANGO2 loss‐of‐function in Drosophila and rescues membrane trafficking defects in human cells. We also observed a partial rescue of one of the fly defects by vitamin B3, though to a lesser extent than vitamin B5. Our data suggest that a B complex supplement containing vitamin B5/pantothenate may have therapeutic benefits in individuals with TANGO2‐deficiency disease. Possible mechanisms for the rescue are discussed that may include restoration of lipid homeostasis.