Caenorhabditis elegans ubiquinone biosynthesis genes.
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 Q9, but both dietary Q8 intake and endogenous Q9 biosynthesis determine Q balance. Thus, it is of current interest to know the regulatory mechanisms of Q9 biosynthesis in this nematode. Here we review results that leaded to identification of genes involved in Q9 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 Q9 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 Q6 but also the intermediate demethoxy-Q6. These findings support the conservative functional homology of these genes.
Rodríguez-Aguilera
Juan C
JC
Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. Utrera, Km. 1, E-41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Asencio
Claudio
C
Ruiz-Ferrer
Macarena
M
Vela
Jordana
J
Navas
Plácido
P
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D034622:RNA Interference; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D014451:Ubiquinone; C025203:Ubiquinone Q1; C030571:ubiquinone 9