Potential physiological importance of pyrroloquinoline quinone.
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a novel biofactor for which a proposition can be made for physiological importance. PQQ was first recognized as an enzyme cofactor in bacteria. It has recently been tentatively identified as a component of interstellar dust. Thus, PQQ may have been present throughout early biological conception and evolution. PQQ is also a potent plant growth factor. Consequently, for animals and humans, there has been constant exposure to PQQ. In animals, PQQ is reported to participate in a range of biological functions with apparent survival benefits (e.g., improved neonatal growth and reproductive performance). There are also benefits from PQQ supplementation related to cognitive, immune, and antioxidant functions, as well as protection from cardiac and neurological ischemic events. Although PQQ is not currently viewed as a vitamin, its involvement in cell signaling pathways, particularly those important to mitochondriogenesis in experimental animal models, may eventually provide a rationale for defining PQQ as vital to life. For humans, such evidence suggests there may be similar parallels or benefits from improving PQQ status.
Nutrition Department, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. rbrucker@ucdavis.edu
Robert
R
Rucker
Winyoo
W
Chowanadisai
Masahiko
M
Nakano
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D045542:PQQ Cofactor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000975:Antioxidants; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D045542:PQQ Cofactor