Hot spot-based engineering of ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase for the improvement of D-pantothenic acid production in Escherichia coli.

D-Pantothenic acid (D-PA) is an essential vitamin with wide applications. However, the biotechnological production of D-PA is still not competitive with the chemical synthesis in terms of production cost. Ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase is a crucial enzyme in the D-PA synthetic pathway in Escherichia coli encoded by the panB gene. Here a hot spots study was applied to a ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgKPHMT) to relieve the product inhibitory effect and thus improve the D-PA production. Compared with the wild type, the double-site variant CgKPHMT-K25A/E189S showed 1.8 times higher enzyme activity and 2.1 times higher catalytic efficiency, 1.88 and 3.32 times higher inhibitory constant of α-ketoisovalerate and D-PA, respectively. The D-PA yield using E. coli W3110 adopted the double-site variant was 41.17 g·L-1 within 48 h, a 9.80 g·L-1 increase. Structural analysis of K25A/E189S revealed the expansion of the entry channel and the change of the electric charge from negative to uncharged due to the substitution from glutamic acid to serine at site 189. Our study emphasized the positive roles of ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase in D-PA production and paved the way by analyzing critical enzymes in the synthetic pathway of E. coli to increase the D-PA yield.

High-resolution crystal structure and chemical screening reveal pantothenate kinase as a new target for antifungal development.

Fungal infections are the leading cause of mortality by eukaryotic pathogens, with an estimated 150 million severe life-threatening cases and 1.7 million deaths reported annually. The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant fungal isolates highlights the urgent need for new drugs with new mechanisms of action. In fungi, pantothenate phosphorylation, catalyzed by PanK enzyme, is the first step in the utilization of pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis. In all fungi sequenced so far, this enzyme is encoded by a single PanK gene. Here, we report the crystal structure of a fungal PanK alone as well as with high-affinity inhibitors from a single chemotype identified through a high-throughput chemical screen. Structural, biochemical, and functional analyses revealed mechanisms governing substrate and ligand binding, dimerization, and catalysis and helped identify new compounds that inhibit the growth of several Candida species. The data validate PanK as a promising target for antifungal drug development.

PI3K drives the de novo synthesis of coenzyme A from vitamin B5.

In response to hormones and growth factors, the class I phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) signalling network functions as a major regulator of metabolism and growth, governing cellular nutrient uptake, energy generation, reducing cofactor production and macromolecule biosynthesis1. Many of the driver mutations in cancer with the highest recurrence, including in receptor tyrosine kinases, Ras, PTEN and PI3K, pathologically activate PI3K signalling2,3. However, our understanding of the core metabolic program controlled by PI3K is almost certainly incomplete. Here, using mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics and isotope tracing, we show that PI3K signalling stimulates the de novo synthesis of one of the most pivotal metabolic cofactors: coenzyme A (CoA). CoA is the major carrier of activated acyl groups in cells4,5 and is synthesized from cysteine, ATP and the essential nutrient vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenate)6,7. We identify pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) and PANK4 as substrates of the PI3K effector kinase AKT8. Although PANK2 is known to catalyse the rate-determining first step of CoA synthesis, we find that the minimally characterized but highly conserved PANK49 is a rate-limiting suppressor of CoA synthesis through its metabolite phosphatase activity. Phosphorylation of PANK4 by AKT relieves this suppression. Ultimately, the PI3K-PANK4 axis regulates the abundance of acetyl-CoA and other acyl-CoAs, CoA-dependent processes such as lipid metabolism and proliferation. We propose that these regulatory mechanisms coordinate cellular CoA supplies with the demands of hormone/growth-factor-driven or oncogene-driven metabolism and growth.

Pantothenate biosynthesis is critical for chronic infection by the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential molecule acting in metabolism, post-translational modification, and regulation of gene expression. While all organisms synthesize CoA, many, including humans, are unable to produce its precursor, pantothenate. Intriguingly, like most plants, fungi and bacteria, parasites of the coccidian subgroup of Apicomplexa, including the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, possess all the enzymes required for de novo synthesis of pantothenate. Here, the importance of CoA and pantothenate biosynthesis for the acute and chronic stages of T. gondii infection is dissected through genetic, biochemical and metabolomic approaches, revealing that CoA synthesis is essential for T. gondii tachyzoites, due to the parasite's inability to salvage CoA or intermediates of the pathway. In contrast, pantothenate synthesis is only partially active in T. gondii tachyzoites, making the parasite reliant on its uptake. However, pantothenate synthesis is crucial for the establishment of chronic infection, offering a promising target for intervention against the persistent stage of T. gondii.

Understanding humectant behaviour through their water-holding properties.

OBJECTIVE: Humectants perform essential roles in the formulation of topical moisturizing products in terms of delivery of active ingredients, consumer experience and biophysical behaviour. How they retain and release water is key to understanding their behaviour. METHODS: Dynamic vapour sorption (DVS) was used to monitor the dehydration kinetics of three humectants widely used in topical formulations-glycerine, dexpanthenol and urea. Model aqueous solutions with concentrations of 20% w/w were tested and compared against pure deionized water. RESULTS: The three humectants varied in their ability to retain water during the dehydration process. Dexpanthenol was able to retain water most efficiently during the latter stages of dehydration. Urea demonstrated evidence of crystallization during the final stage of water loss, which was not shown by glycerine or dexpanthenol. CONCLUSIONS: Humectants perform vital roles in the formulation of consumer acceptable topical products including the delivery of actives to the skin. Their ability to influence water movement in the skin is also essential for the maintenance of stratum corneum flexibility. DVS assessment of aqueous solutions has demonstrated how the behaviour of three commonly used humectants differs. Knowledge of the mechanisms by which these humectants operate enables the formulator to develop topical products optimized for the roles for which they are intended.

OBJECTIF: Les agents humectants jouent un rôle essentiel dans la formulation des produits hydratants topiques en termes de délivrance des principes actifs, d'expérience client et de comportement biophysique. La façon dont ils retiennent et libèrent l'eau est essentielle pour comprendre leur comportement. MÉTHODES: La gravimétrie d'adsorption de vapeur d'eau (Dynamic Vapour Sorption, DVS) a été utilisée pour surveiller la cinétique de déshydratation de trois humectants largement utilisés dans les formulations topiques : glycérine, dexpanthénol et urée. Des solutions aqueuses modèles avec des concentrations de 20 % p/p ont été testées et comparées à de l'eau pure déionisée. RÉSULTATS: Les trois humectants ont varié dans leur capacité à retenir l'eau pendant le processus de déshydratation. Le dexpanthénol a été capable de retenir l'eau plus efficacement pendant les dernières étapes de la déshydratation. L'urée a démontré des signes de cristallisation pendant la perte d'eau au stade final qui n'a pas été démontrée par la glycérine ou le dexpanthénol CONCLUSIONS: Les agents humectants jouent un rôle essentiel dans la formulation des produits topiques acceptables pour les consommateurs, y compris l'administration de principes actifs sur la peau. Leur capacité à influencer le mouvement de l'eau dans la peau est également essentielle pour maintenir la flexibilité de la couche cornée. L'évaluation DVS des solutions aqueuses a démontré comment le comportement de trois humectants couramment utilisés diffère. La connaissance des mécanismes par lesquels fonctionnent ces humectants permet au formulateur de développer des produits topiques optimisés pour les rôles auxquels ils sont destinés.

Non-clinical safety profile and pharmacodynamics of two formulations of the anti-sepsis drug candidate Rejuveinix (RJX).

Here, we demonstrate that the two distinct formulations of our anti-sepsis drug candidate Rejuveinix (RJX), have a very favorable safety profile in Wistar Albino rats at dose levels comparable to the projected clinical dose levels. 14-day treatment with RJX-P (RJX PPP.18.1051) or RJX-B (RJX-B200702-CLN) similarly elevated the day 15 tissue levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as ascorbic acid in both the lungs and liver in a dose-dependent fashion. The activity of SOD and ascorbic acid levels were significantly higher in tissues of RJX-P or RJX-B treated rats than vehicle-treated control rats (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between tissue SOD activity or ascorbic acid levels of rats treated with RJX-P vs. rats treated with RJX-B (p > 0.05). The observed elevations of the SOD and ascorbic acid levels were transient and were no longer detectable on day 28 following a 14-day recovery period. These results demonstrate that RJX-P and RJX-B are bioequivalent relative to their pharmacodynamic effects on tissue SOD and ascorbic acid levels. Furthermore, both formulations showed profound protective activity in a mouse model of sepsis. In agreement with the PD evaluations in rats and their proposed mechanism of action, both RJX-P and RJX-B exhibited near-identical potent and dose-dependent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the LPS-GalN model of ARDS and multi-organ failure in mice.

Exploring Heteroaromatic Rings as a Replacement for the Labile Amide of Antiplasmodial Pantothenamides.

Malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites are developing resistance to antimalarial drugs, providing the impetus for new antiplasmodials. Although pantothenamides show potent antiplasmodial activity, hydrolysis by pantetheinases/vanins present in blood rapidly inactivates them. We herein report the facile synthesis and biological activity of a small library of pantothenamide analogues in which the labile amide group is replaced with a heteroaromatic ring. Several of these analogues display nanomolar antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum and/or Plasmodium knowlesi, and are stable in the presence of pantetheinase. Both a known triazole and a novel isoxazole derivative were further characterized and found to possess high selectivity indices, medium or high Caco-2 permeability, and medium or low microsomal clearance in vitro. Although they fail to suppress Plasmodium berghei proliferation in vivo, the pharmacokinetic and contact time data presented provide a benchmark for the compound profile likely required to achieve antiplasmodial activity in mice and should facilitate lead optimization.

Enantiomeric separation of panthenol by Capillary Electrophoresis. Analysis of commercial formulations and toxicity evaluation on non-target organisms.

The first CE methodology enabling the enantiomeric separation of panthenol was developed in this work. Electrokinetic chromatography with cyclodextrins (CD-EKC) was the CE mode employed for this purpose. The effect of different experimental variables such as the nature and concentration of the cyclodextrin, the temperature and the separation voltage was investigated. The best enantiomeric separation was obtained with 25 mM (2-carboxyethyl)-ß-CD (CE-ß-CD) in 100 mM borate buffer (pH 9.0), with a separation voltage of 30 kV and a temperature of 30 °C. Under these conditions, an enantiomeric resolution of 2.0 in an analysis time of 4.2 min was obtained, being the biologically active enantiomer d-panthenol (dexpanthenol) the second-migrating enantiomer. The analytical characteristics of the method were evaluated in terms of precision, accuracy, selectivity, linearity, LOD, and LOQ, showing a good performance for the quantitation of dexpanthenol in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. The enantiomeric impurity (L-panthenol) could be detected at a 0.1% level with respect to the majority enantiomer, allowing to accomplish the requirements of the ICH guidelines. The method was also successfully applied to study the stability of panthenol under abiotic and biotic conditions and its toxicity on non-target organisms (the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrhiza).

Molecular Properties of Bare and Microhydrated Vitamin B5-Calcium Complexes.

Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5, is an essential nutrient involved in several metabolic pathways. It shows a characteristic preference for interacting with Ca(II) ions, which are abundant in the extracellular media and act as secondary mediators in the activation of numerous biological functions. The bare deprotonated form of pantothenic acid, [panto-H]-, its complex with Ca(II) ion, [Ca(panto-H)]+, and singly charged micro-hydrated calcium pantothenate [Ca(panto-H)(H2O)]+ adduct have been obtained in the gas phase by electrospray ionization and assayed by mass spectrometry and IR multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy in the fingerprint spectral range. Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP(-D3) and MP2 levels of theory were performed to simulate geometries, thermochemical data, and linear absorption spectra of low-lying isomers, allowing us to assign the experimental absorptions to particular structural motifs. Pantothenate was found to exist in the gas phase as a single isomeric form showing deprotonation on the carboxylic moiety. On the contrary, free and monohydrated calcium complexes of deprotonated pantothenic acid both present at least two isomers participating in the gas-phase population, sharing the deprotonation of pantothenate on the carboxylic group and either a fourfold or fivefold coordination with calcium, thus justifying the strong affinity of pantothenate for the metal.

Biophysical Characterization of Type III Pantothenate Kinase (PanK) from Acinetobacter baumannii.

BACKGROUND: Type-III Pantothenate kinase from the multi drug resistant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii (AbPanK) catalyzes the first step of the essential Coenzyme A biosynthesis pathway. AbPanK is an attractive drug target against the bacteria since it is an essential enzyme and its structure is significantly different from the human PanK. METHODS: AbPanK was cloned, expressed, purified and crystallized. A good quality single crystal was used for X-ray intensity data collection. Dynamic light scattering was done for calculating the hydrodynamic radii and its oligomeric nature in the solution. Binding studies of this protein with its two substrates, Pantothenate and ATP were done using spectrofluorometer. RESULTS: Our results indicated that AbPanK shows a strong affinity with pantothenate with dissociation constant of 1.2 x 10- 8 M and moderate affinity towards ATP of 3.7x 10-3 M. This fact was further substantiated by the calculations of Km of both substrates using kinase assay kit. Dynamic light scattering studies have shown that it exists as homogenous solution with hydrodynamic radii corresponding to the molecular weight of 29.55 kDa. A low-resolution X-ray intensity data set was collected, which shows that AbPank crystallizes in P2 space group with cell dimensions of a= 165 Å, b= 260 Å, and, c= 197 Å and α= 90.0, ß= 113.60, γ= 90.0. DISCUSSION: Recombinant Pantothenate kinase from Acinetobacter baumannii was purified to homogeneity and crystallized. The enzyme exhibits very low sequence identity (28%) to other corresponding enzymes. CONCLUSION: The recombinant enzyme was active and its binding affinities with its substrates pantothenate and ATP have been studied. This information would be very useful while designing the inhibitors of this enzyme in order to fight bacterial infections associated to this pathogen.

High-level production of d-pantothenic acid from glucose by fed-batch cultivation of Escherichia coli.

d-Pantothenic acid (D-PA) is an essential vitamin widely used in food, feed, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. An Escherichia coli platform was developed for the high-level production of D-PA from glucose through fed-batch cultivation. Initially, the effects of different glucose feeding strategies D-PA synthesis were studied. It was found that D-PA production in glucose control (5 g/L) fed-batch culture reached 24.3 g/L, which was 4.09 times that in the batch culture. Next, the effect of auxotrophic amino acid (isoleucine)-limited feeding on D-PA production was investigated. The results revealed that isoleucine feeding decreased the accumulation of by-product acetic acid and promoted D-PA production significantly. Furthermore, an isoleucine feeding embedded multistage glucose supply strategy was established, and a maximum titer of 39.1 g/L was achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this levels are the highest reported so far in engineered E. coli for the D-PA production. The developed fed-batch feeding strategy may be useful for the industrial D-PA production by E. coli.

Cyclic Phosphopantothenic Acid Prodrugs for Treatment of Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration.

Mutations in the human PANK2 gene are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) and result in low levels of coenzyme-A (CoA) in the CNS due to impaired production of phosphopantothenic acid (PPA) from vitamin B5. Restoration of central PPA levels by delivery of exogenous PPA is a recent strategy to reactivate CoA biosynthesis in PKAN patients. Fosmetpantotenate is an oral PPA prodrug. We report here the development of a new PANk2-/- knockout model that allows CoA regeneration in brain cells to be evaluated and describe two new series of cyclic phosphate prodrugs of PPA capable of regenerating excellent levels of CoA in this system. A proof-of-concept study in mouse demonstrates the potential of this new class of prodrugs to deliver PPA to the brain following oral administration and confirms incorporation of the prodrug-derived PPA into CoA.

Fluorescence Assay for the Determination of d-Panthenol Based on Novel Ring-Fused 2-Pyridone Derivative.

Herein, a novel fluorescent method for the determination of d-panthenol (DP) level in solutions with no separate hydrolysis step has been revealed based on the utilization of citric acid (CA) as a derivatizing agent. Consequently, the essential parameters of the derivatization process were established, resulting in the development of sensitive, repeatable, and accurate determination of panthenol. The method was approved, and its usefulness in characterizing the concentration of DP in pharmaceutical formulations and selectivity in the determination of DP were validated. The chemical structure of the new fluorophore formulating in the reaction in DP with CA, i.e., 6-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H,6H-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazine-8-carboxylic acid (ODPC), was elucidated using detailed NMR experiments: one-dimensional (1H, 13C) as well as two-dimensional NMR spectra (1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C HSQC, 1H-13C HMBC, 1H-15N HSQC, 1H-15N HMBC).

Antimalarial pantothenamide metabolites target acetyl-coenzyme A biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria eradication is critically dependent on new therapeutics that target resistant Plasmodium parasites and block transmission of the disease. Here, we report that pantothenamide bioisosteres were active against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites and also blocked transmission of sexual stages to the mosquito vector. These compounds were resistant to degradation by serum pantetheinases, showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and cleared parasites in a humanized mouse model of P. falciparum infection. Metabolomics revealed that coenzyme A biosynthetic enzymes converted pantothenamides into coenzyme A analogs that interfered with parasite acetyl-coenzyme A anabolism. Resistant parasites generated in vitro showed mutations in acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase 11. Introduction and reversion of these mutations in P. falciparum using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing confirmed the roles of these enzymes in the sensitivity of the malaria parasites to pantothenamides. These pantothenamide compounds with a new mode of action may have potential as drugs against malaria parasites.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for d-pantothenic acid production.

Escherichia coli was engineered to produce d-pantothenic acid via systematic metabolic engineering. Firstly, genes of acetohydroxy acid synthase II, pantothenate synthetase, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethyltransferase, 2-dehydropantoate 2-reductase and ketol-acid reductoisomerase were edited in E. coli W3110 with a resulting d-pantothenic acid yield of 0.49 g/L. Expressions of valine-pyruvate aminotransferase and branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase were then attenuated to decrease the carbon flux in l-valine biosynthetic pathway which is a competing pathway to the d-pantothenic acid biosynthetic pathway, and the yield increased to 1.48 g/L. Mutagenesis of pantothenate kinase and deletion of threonine deaminase further increased the production to 1.78 g/L. Overexpressions of panC and panB from Corynebacterium glutamicum enhanced the production by 29%. In fed-batch fermentations, strain DPA-9/pTrc99a-panBC(C.G) exhibited a highest d-pantothenic acid yield of 28.45 g/L. The findings in this study demonstrate the systematic metabolic engineering in Escherichia coli W3110 would be a promising strategy for industrial production of d-pantothenic acid.

Simultaneous Determination of Dexpanthenol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride, Mepyramine Maleate and their Related Substances by a RP-HPLC Method in Topical Dosage Forms.

The pharmaceutical combination of dexpanthenol (DPA), lidocaine hydrochloride (LIH) and mepyramine maleate (MAM) is used for their anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic, anesthetic and antiseptic properties. The present study was aimed to develop and validate a new, first and rapid high performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of DPA, LIH and MAM in the presence of their stress-induced degradation products in pharmaceutical gel/fluigel formulations. The chromatographic separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS-3 V, 250 × 4.6 mm (5 µm) column using a gradient mobile phase of an aqueous solution of ammonium acetate (0.01 M) and methanol mixture at gradient flow rates of 1.3 mL/min and 1.5 mL/min with detection at 230 nm. The retention times for DPA, LIH and MAM were ~3.28 min, 11.67 min and 12.99 min, respectively. The method was validated in accordance with International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines. Calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 9-54 µg/mL for MAM and LIH and 30-180 µg/mL for DPA with satisfactory correlation coefficients (R2 > 0.999). The mean % recoveries obtained were found to be 99.9% for MAM, 100.3% for LIH and 99.3% for DPA. Precision % RSD was <2. Robustness results were uniform, there were no marked changes, so method is highly validated. All drugs were subjected to stress conditions and degradation products were separated with acceptable peak tailing (T ≤ 2) and good resolution (Rs > 2). The validated method therefore can be adapted for quality control procedures of the drugs in pharmaceutical dosage forms and their stability studies.

Developing Pantetheinase-Resistant Pantothenamide Antibacterials: Structural Modification Impacts on PanK Interaction and Mode of Action.

Pantothenamides (PanAms) are analogues of pantothenate, the biosynthetic precursor of coenzyme A (CoA), and show potent antimicrobial activity against several bacteria and the malaria parasite in vitro. However, pantetheinase enzymes that normally degrade pantetheine in human serum also act on the PanAms, thereby reducing their potency. In this study, we designed analogues of the known antibacterial PanAm N-heptylpantothenamide (N7-Pan) to be resistant to pantetheinase by using three complementary structural modification strategies. We show that, while two of these are effective in imparting resistance, the introduced modifications have an impact on the analogues' interaction with pantothenate kinase (PanK, the first CoA biosynthetic enzyme), which acts as a metabolic activator and/or target of the PanAms. This, in turn, directly affects their mode of action. Importantly, we discover that the phosphorylated version of N7-Pan shows pantetheinase resistance and antistaphylococcal activity, providing a lead for future studies in the ongoing search of PanAm analogues that show in vivo efficacy.

Dehydropropylpantothenamide isolated by a co-culture of Nocardia tenerifensis IFM 10554T in the presence of animal cells.

A new amide, named dehydropropylpantothenamide (1), was obtained by a co-culture of Nocardia tenerifensis IFM 10554T in the presence of the mouse macrophage-like cell line J774.1 in modified Czapek-Dox (mCD) medium. Compound 1 was synthesized from D-pantothenic acid calcium salt in 6 steps. The absolute configuration of natural compound 1 was determined by comparisons of the optical rotation and CD spectra of synthetic 1. In the present study, a new method for producing secondary metabolites was demonstrated using a "co-culture" in which the genus Nocardia was cultured in the presence of an animal cell line.

Structure-activity analysis of CJ-15,801 analogues that interact with Plasmodium falciparum pantothenate kinase and inhibit parasite proliferation.

Survival of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is dependent on pantothenate (vitamin B5), a precursor of the fundamental enzyme cofactor coenzyme A. CJ-15,801, an enamide analogue of pantothenate isolated from the fungus Seimatosporium sp. CL28611, was previously shown to inhibit P. falciparum proliferation in vitro by targeting pantothenate utilization. To inform the design of next generation analogues, we set out to synthesize and test a series of synthetic enamide-bearing pantothenate analogues. We demonstrate that conservation of the R-pantoyl moiety and the trans-substituted double bond of CJ-15,801 is important for the selective, on-target antiplasmodial effect, while replacement of the carboxyl group is permitted, and, in one case, favored. Additionally, we show that the antiplasmodial potency of CJ-15,801 analogues that retain the R-pantoyl and trans-substituted enamide moieties correlates with inhibition of P. falciparum pantothenate kinase (PfPanK)-catalyzed pantothenate phosphorylation, implicating the interaction with PfPanK as a key determinant of antiplasmodial activity.

iPSC-derived neuronal models of PANK2-associated neurodegeneration reveal mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to early disease.

Mutations in PANK2 lead to neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. PANK2 has a role in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) from dietary vitamin B5, but the neuropathological mechanism and reasons for iron accumulation remain unknown. In this study, atypical patient-derived fibroblasts were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and subsequently differentiated into cortical neuronal cells for studying disease mechanisms in human neurons. We observed no changes in PANK2 expression between control and patient cells, but a reduction in protein levels was apparent in patient cells. CoA homeostasis and cellular iron handling were normal, mitochondrial function was affected; displaying activated NADH-related and inhibited FADH-related respiration, resulting in increased mitochondrial membrane potential. This led to increased reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation in patient-derived neurons. These data suggest that mitochondrial deficiency is an early feature of the disease process and can be explained by altered NADH/FADH substrate supply to oxidative phosphorylation. Intriguingly, iron chelation appeared to exacerbate the mitochondrial phenotype in both control and patient neuronal cells. This raises caution for the use iron chelation therapy in general when iron accumulation is absent.