Hydroxylation of demethoxy-Q6 constitutes a control point in yeast coenzyme Q6 biosynthesis

23 páginas, 8 figuras, 2 tablas.Coenzyme Q is a lipid molecule required for respiration and antioxidant protection. Q biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires nine proteins (Coq1p–Coq9p). We demonstrate in this study that Q levels are modulated during growth by its conversion from demethoxy-Q (DMQ), a late intermediate. Similar conversion was produced when cells were subjected to oxidative stress conditions. Changes in Q6/DMQ6 ratio were accompanied by changes in COQ7 gene mRNA levels encoding the protein responsible for the DMQ hydroxylation, the penultimate step in Q biosynthesis pathway. Yeast coq null mutant failed to accumulate any Q late biosynthetic intermediate. However, in coq7 mutants the addition of exogenous Q produces the DMQ synthesis. Similar effect was produced by over-expressing ABC1/COQ8. These results support the existence of a biosynthetic complex that allows the DMQ6 accumulation and suggest that Coq7p is a control point for the Q biosynthesis regulation in yeast.The work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Grant BFU2005–03017/BMC, and by NIH GM45952 to CFC.Peer reviewe