The Complexity of Making Ubiquinone.

The Complexity of Making Ubiquinone.
Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Oct 07;:
Authors: Wang Y, Hekimi S
Abstract
Ubiquinone (UQ, coenzyme Q) is an essential electron transfer lipid in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It is a main source of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also has antioxidant properties. This mix of characteristics is why ubiquinone supplementation is considered a potential therapy for many diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutations in the ubiquinone biosynthetic pathway are increasingly being identified in patients. Furthermore, secondary ubiquinone deficiency is a common finding associated with mitochondrial disorders and might exacerbate these conditions. Recent developments have suggested that ubiquinone biosynthesis occurs in discrete domains of the mitochondrial inner membrane close to ER-mitochondria contact sites. This spatial requirement for ubiquinone biosynthesis could be the link between secondary ubiquinone deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction, which commonly results in loss of mitochondrial structural integrity.
PMID: 31601461 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM - October 6, 2019 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Wang Y, Hekimi S Tags: Trends Endocrinol Metab Source Type: research