title: Frataxin interacts functionally with mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins.
abstract: Frataxin deficiency is the main cause of Friedreich ataxia, an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder. Frataxin function in mitochondria has not been fully explained yet. In this work, we show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae frataxin orthologue Yfh1p interacts physically with succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits Sdh1p and Sdh2p of the yeast mitochondrial electron transport chain and also with electron transfer flavoprotein complex ETFalpha and ETFbeta subunits from the electron transfer flavoprotein complex. Genetic synthetic interaction experiments confirmed a functional relationship between YFH1 and succinate dehydrogenase genes SDH1 and SDH2. We also demonstrate a physical interaction between human frataxin and human succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits, suggesting also a key role of frataxin in the mitochondrial electron transport chain in humans. Consequently, we suggest a direct participation of the respiratory chain in the pathogenesis of the Friedreich ataxia, which we propose to be considered as an OXPHOS disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Instituto de Biomedicina, CSIC, C/Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González-Cabo
authors.forename: Rafael P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Manrique
authors.forename: M Adelaida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: García-Gimeno
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palau
mesh_terms: D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000096923:Frataxin
chemical_list: D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D000096923:Frataxin