Research Projects
Lightning and Love Foundation is the sole driver of research of THAP12 Genetic Disease, bringing together scientists, clinicians and companies to ensure this condition is making progress towards a CURE
University of Montreal
Partnership with the Samarut Lab
Our partnership with the Eric Samarut Lab @ University of Montreal began with a simple first-generation THAP12 CRISPR knockout Zebrafish model. This model showed seizure-like behaviors and abnormal brain MRI. This strong evidence led to Lightning and Love Foundation sponsoring a stable Zebrafish line and a humanized mouse model. The lab was also granted Catalyst funding from the Rare Disease Model and Mechanisms Network for research of the novel THAP12 gene and its function in rare disease. The ongoing partnership between the Samarut Lab and the Lightning and Love Foundation aims at publishing the very first THAP12 research papers and driving the fundamental scienfiic learning needed for drug discovery for this devestating disease.
A Public Benefit Corporation Partnership
Rarebase Collaboration
Lightning and Love Foundation is excited to partner with Rarebase and to leverage their network of expert scientists, specialist laboratories, and leading biotechnology companies as they evaluate all feasible therapeutic approaches in parallel. We trust they will prioritize technologies that can be rapidly translated to clinical settings and help our organization move steadily towards a disease treatment.
International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium in partnership with Jackson Labs
Knockout Mouse Model @ Jackson Labs
The NIH Funded Knockout Mouse Program through the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium generated the first THAP12 Knockout Mouse Model. The intercross of germline confirmed mice showed no homozygotes, indicating likely embryonic lethal line. The project is continuing with the heterozygous animals going through the Knockout Mouse Project phenotyping pipeline for a range of clinical assessments, and the mutant embryos being evaluated for time of death and phenotype at that time.
Coriell Institute for Medical Research
NIGMS Cell Repository
The NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository, sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, provides scientists around the world with resources for cell and genetic research. THAP12 Cell lines are currently available for research through Coriell and can be ordered here.
Current understanding
of THAP12
Thap12 Variants
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Predictions show these variants to be damaging to the protein structure/function.
No pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in known disease genes that would explain the phenotype were identified in either sibling.
THAP12 is an upstream regulator of interferon-induced serine/threonine protein kinase R. THAP12 has been shown to phosphorylate EIF2AK2, an IFN-induced serine/threonine-protein kinase has been recently associated (Tier 1 candidate) with a disorder of neurodevelopment (Baylor UDN, 2020), with clinical features similar to this case
The gene is depleted for protein-truncating variants in the general population, with a probability of loss-of-function intolerance score of 0.97.
The THAP domain is evolutionarily conserved and the orthologs of the human THAP genes have been found in mouse, rat, pig, cow, chicken, Xenopus and zebrafish, presumably indicating an important biological role.
Disease-Causing Variants
THAP12 (aka THAP0, PRKRIR, P52rIPK)
Paternal variant:
THAP12 (c.829C>A, p.Pro277Thr)
11:76352321 G>T (hg38)
11:76063365 G>T (hg19)
Missense Variant
Maternal variant:
THAP12 (c.312del, p.Glu105AsnfsTer2)
11:76360961 CT>C (hg38)
11:76072005 CT>C (hg19)
Frameshift Variant with loss of function
Clinical presentation of THAP12 Disease
This disease presents primarily as intractable epilepsy starting with Infantile Spasms with hypsarrhythmia before 3 months of age and progressing to more diverse seizure types including Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
Another distinct symptom is severe Hypotonia with known patients unable to gain head control, core control, or weight bearing through limbs.
Additional global developmental delays are seen as feeding difficulties and dysphagia requiring g-tube dependence, cortical visual impairment, and lack of motor planning preventing purposeful use of limbs
Related Research Articles
Topic:
THAP12 as a binding partner to p58ipk (DNAJC3) which is a negative regulator of Protein Kinase R (PKR) activity, and therefore PKR function may be downregulated. Alterations in the PKR pathway may have associations with neurological disorders.
Topic:
Other THAP Family genes (specifically THAP11) show sensitivity to mutagenesis and association with neurodevelopmental abnormalities.