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Caenorhabditis elegans ubiquinone biosynthesis genes
Author(s) -
RodríguezAguilera Juan C.,
Asencio Claudio,
RuizFerrer Macarena,
Vela Jordana,
Navas Plácido
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.5520180226
Subject(s) - complementation , caenorhabditis elegans , biosynthesis , gene , biology , coenzyme q – cytochrome c reductase , biochemistry , mitochondrion , mitochondrial respiratory chain , respiratory chain , genetics , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , cytochrome c
Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q, Q) is an essential lipid electron carrier in the mitochondria respiratory chain, and also functions as antioxidant and participates as a cofactor of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. Caernorhabditis elegans synthesize Q 9 , but both dietary Q 8 intake and endogenous Q 9 biosynthesis determine Q balance. Thus, it is of current interest to know the regulatory mechanisms of Q 9 biosynthesis in this nematode. Here we review results that leaded to identification of genes involved in Q 9 biosynthesis in this nematode using the RNA interference technology. C. elegans coq genes were silenced and depletion of Q content was observed, indicating that the genes related here participate in Q 9 biosynthesis. Silenced populations showed an extension of adult life span, probably by the decrease of endogenous oxidative stress produced in mitochondria. We also report the heterologous complementation of C. elegans coq ‐5 and coq‐7 genes in their homologue yeast coq null mutants, leading to restore its ability to growth in non‐fermentable sugars. These complemented yeast strains accumulated Q 6 but also the intermediate demethoxy‐Q 6 . These findings support the conservative functional homology of these genes.