Scenic Biotech has announced a publication in Nature on the role of ABHD18 as a missing link in the cardiolipin biosynthesis pathway.
Cardiolipin is the signature phospholipid essential for mitochondrial function and implicated in both rare and common diseases. In a collaboration between Scenic and Jason Moffat’s team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, the study aimed to identify modifier genes for Barth syndrome (BTHS), an inborn error of cardiolipin metabolism, characterized by early onset cardiac and skeletal myopathy.
Scenic’s Cell-Seq platform, enabling the systematic discovery of genes that alter or buffer the consequences of disease-causing mutations, identified ABHD18 as a novel therapeutic target. Loss of ABHD18 was found to help overcome the severe disease characteristics caused by the BTHS-associated TAZ gene, offering new insights into potential therapeutic strategies.
“Our second peer-reviewed publication in Nature in a year highlights the robust and reproducible power of Scenic’s Cell-Seq platform to uncover disease-modifying genes that are otherwise inaccessible with conventional approaches,” said Oscar Izeboud, CEO of Scenic Biotech.
“While we remain focused on advancing our lead candidate targeting PLA2G15, this research provides further validation of our platform’s proven ability to discover modifier genes like ABHD18 that offer entirely new avenues for therapeutic intervention. By focusing on the biology that naturally counteracts disease, our platform identifies potential drug targets and reveals nature’s blueprints for resilience.”
“This study showcases the function of a modifier gene in a rare disease like Barth Syndrome. Rather than attempting to repair the faulty TAZ gene directly, we identified and targeted this secondary gene that offsets the effects of TAZ deficiency,” said Jason Moffat, program head and senior scientist in the genetics and genome biology program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto.
“Deactivation of ABHD18 rescued mitochondrial defects in cells and achieved full suppression of all Barth syndrome disease hallmarks in preclinical models. This approach effectively rewires mitochondrial function and offers a promising new therapeutic approach grounded in the biology of genetic suppression.”
Vincent Blomen, senior director discovery sciences at Scenic Biotech, said: “We show that ABHD18 plays a crucial role in the remodelling and maturation of cardiolipin, positioning it as a key regulator of mitochondrial integrity and a compelling target for therapeutic intervention. In addition to rare mitochondrial disorders, impaired cardiolipin remodelling has been implicated in a broad range of conditions, including cardiac and kidney disorders, underscoring the potential relevance of this pathway in common diseases.”
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
