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Wang Y, Lilienfeldt N, Hekimi S. Understanding coenzyme Q. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1533-1610. [PMID: 38722242 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00040.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme Q (CoQ), also known as ubiquinone, comprises a benzoquinone head group and a long isoprenoid side chain. It is thus extremely hydrophobic and resides in membranes. It is best known for its complex function as an electron transporter in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) but is also required for several other crucial cellular processes. In fact, CoQ appears to be central to the entire redox balance of the cell. Remarkably, its structure and therefore its properties have not changed from bacteria to vertebrates. In metazoans, it is synthesized in all cells and is found in most, and maybe all, biological membranes. CoQ is also known as a nutritional supplement, mostly because of its involvement with antioxidant defenses. However, whether there is any health benefit from oral consumption of CoQ is not well established. Here we review the function of CoQ as a redox-active molecule in the ETC and other enzymatic systems, its role as a prooxidant in reactive oxygen species generation, and its separate involvement in antioxidant mechanisms. We also review CoQ biosynthesis, which is particularly complex because of its extreme hydrophobicity, as well as the biological consequences of primary and secondary CoQ deficiency, including in human patients. Primary CoQ deficiency is a rare inborn condition due to mutation in CoQ biosynthetic genes. Secondary CoQ deficiency is much more common, as it accompanies a variety of pathological conditions, including mitochondrial disorders as well as aging. In this context, we discuss the importance, but also the great difficulty, of alleviating CoQ deficiency by CoQ supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Noah Lilienfeldt
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Siegfried Hekimi
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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2
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Corral-Sarasa J, Martínez-Gálvez JM, González-García P, Wendling O, Jiménez-Sánchez L, López-Herrador S, Quinzii CM, Díaz-Casado ME, López LC. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114148. [PMID: 38697100 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency syndrome is conventionally treated with limited efficacy using exogenous CoQ10. Poor outcomes result from low absorption and bioavailability of CoQ10 and the clinical heterogenicity of the disease. Here, we demonstrate that supplementation with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4HB), the precursor of the benzoquinone ring in the CoQ biosynthetic pathway, completely rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of CoQ deficiency. 4HB stimulates endogenous CoQ biosynthesis in tissues of Coq2 mutant mice, normalizing mitochondrial function and rescuing cardiac insufficiency, edema, and neurodevelopmental delay. In contrast, exogenous CoQ10 supplementation falls short in fully restoring the phenotype. The treatment is translatable to human use, as proven by in vitro studies in skin fibroblasts from patients with pathogenic variants in COQ2. The therapeutic approach extends to other disorders characterized by deficiencies in the production of 4HB and early steps of CoQ biosynthesis and instances of secondary CoQ deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Corral-Sarasa
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Martínez-Gálvez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UBV-EHU) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Pilar González-García
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Olivia Wendling
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, Institut Clinique de la Souris (ICS), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | | | - Sergio López-Herrador
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Catarina M Quinzii
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - María Elena Díaz-Casado
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Luis C López
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), 18016 Granada, Spain.
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Hughes JR, McMorrow KJ, Bovin N, Miller DJ. An oviduct glycan increases sperm lifespan by diminishing the production of ubiquinone and reactive oxygen species†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:356-366. [PMID: 37427962 PMCID: PMC10502565 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm storage by females after mating for species-dependent periods is used widely among animals with internal fertilization to allow asynchrony between mating and ovulation. Many mammals store sperm in the lower oviduct where specific glycans on oviduct epithelial cells retain sperm to form a reservoir. Binding to oviduct cells suppresses sperm intracellular Ca2+ and increases sperm longevity. We investigated the mechanisms by which a specific oviduct glycan, 3-O-sulfated Lewis X trisaccharide (suLeX), prolongs the lifespan of porcine sperm. Using targeted metabolomics, we found that binding to suLeX diminishes the abundance of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, the precursor to ubiquinone (also known as Coenzyme Q), 30 min after addition. Ubiquinone functions as an electron acceptor in the electron transport chain (ETC). 3-O-sulfated Lewis X trisaccharide also suppressed the formation of fumarate. A component of the citric acid cycle, fumarate is synthesized by succinate-coenzyme Q reductase, which employs ubiquinone and is also known as Complex II in the ETC. Consistent with the reduced activity of the ETC, the production of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) was diminished. The enhanced sperm lifespan in the oviduct may be because of suppressed ROS production because high ROS concentrations have toxic effects on sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Hughes
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Katie J McMorrow
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Nicolai Bovin
- Department of Chemical Biology of Glycans and Lipids, Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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Guile MD, Jain A, Anderson KA, Clarke CF. New Insights on the Uptake and Trafficking of Coenzyme Q. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1391. [PMID: 37507930 PMCID: PMC10376127 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12071391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an essential lipid with many cellular functions, such as electron transport for cellular respiration, antioxidant protection, redox homeostasis, and ferroptosis suppression. Deficiencies in CoQ due to aging, genetic disease, or medication can be ameliorated by high-dose supplementation. As such, an understanding of the uptake and transport of CoQ may inform methods of clinical use and identify how to better treat deficiency. Here, we review what is known about the cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of CoQ from yeast, mammalian cell culture, and rodent models, as well as its absorption at the organism level. We discuss the use of these model organisms to probe the mechanisms of uptake and distribution. The literature indicates that CoQ uptake and distribution are multifaceted processes likely to have redundancies in its transport, utilizing the endomembrane system and newly identified proteins that function as lipid transporters. Impairment of the trafficking of either endogenous or exogenous CoQ exerts profound effects on metabolism and stress response. This review also highlights significant gaps in our knowledge of how CoQ is distributed within the cell and suggests future directions of research to better understand this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Guile
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Akash Jain
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Kyle A Anderson
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Catherine F Clarke
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
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Fernández-Portero C, Amián JG, Bella RDL, López-Lluch G, Alarcón D. Coenzyme Q10 Levels Associated With Cognitive Functioning and Executive Function in Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:1-8. [PMID: 35908233 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain deterioration with age is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress that result in structural and functional changes. Recent studies have indicated that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is associated with neurological oxidative stress and cognitive impairment. Studies with older people have shown a relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and CoQ10 levels. However, no studies have analyzed the relationship between CoQ10 and cognitive functioning in older adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between CoQ10 and cognitive functioning in an older adult sample, controlling for other factors that may influence aging, such as the level of physical activity and nutritional status. The sample consisted of 64 older adults aged 65-99 years (76.67 ± 8.16 years), among whom 48 were women (75%). The participants were recruited among those who attended community centers to voluntarily participate in leisure activities. According to previous studies, physical activity and nutritional status are positively associated with cognitive functioning. However, the main finding of this study was that plasma CoQ10, controlling for other measures, was significantly associated with cognitive functioning and executive function. The current findings suggest that a decline in cognitive capacities may be related to reduced antioxidant defenses, as reflected by low CoQ10 levels in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fernández-Portero
- Department of Social Anthropology, Psychology and Public Health, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Josué G Amián
- Department of Social Anthropology, Psychology and Public Health, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Rocío de la Bella
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Andalusian Centre of Developmental Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Guillermo López-Lluch
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Andalusian Centre of Developmental Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, U729), IICS-Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de investigación en Rendimiento Físico y Deportivo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - David Alarcón
- Department of Social Anthropology, Psychology and Public Health, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
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Hughes JR, McMorrow KJ, Bovin N, Miller DJ. An oviduct glycan increases sperm lifespan by diminishing ubiquinone and production of reactive oxygen species. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.08.523174. [PMID: 36712093 PMCID: PMC9881936 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.08.523174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Sperm storage by females after mating for species-dependent periods is used widely among animals with internal fertilization to allow asynchrony between mating and ovulation. Many mammals store sperm in the lower oviduct where specific glycans on epithelial cells retain sperm to form a reservoir. Binding to oviduct cells suppresses sperm intracellular Ca 2+ and increases sperm longevity. We investigated the mechanisms by which a specific oviduct glycan, 3-O-sulfated Lewis X trisaccharide (suLe X ), prolongs the lifespan of porcine sperm. Using targeted metabolomics, we report that binding to suLe X diminishes the abundance of the precursor to ubiquinone and suppresses formation of fumarate, a specific citric acid cycle component, diminishing the activity of the electron transport chain and reducing the production of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). The enhanced sperm lifespan in the oviduct may be due to suppressed ROS production as many reports have demonstrated toxic effects of high ROS concentrations on sperm.
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Mechanisms and Therapeutic Effects of Benzoquinone Ring Analogs in Primary CoQ Deficiencies. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040665. [PMID: 35453349 PMCID: PMC9029335 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is a conserved polyprenylated lipid composed of a redox-active benzoquinone ring and a long polyisoprenyl tail that serves as a membrane anchor. CoQ biosynthesis involves multiple steps, including multiple modifications of the precursor ring 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Mutations in the enzymes involved in CoQ biosynthesis pathway result in primary coenzyme Q deficiencies, mitochondrial disorders whose clinical heterogenicity reflects the multiple biological function of CoQ. Patients with these disorders do not always respond to CoQ supplementation, and CoQ analogs have not been successful as alternative approaches. Progress made in understanding the CoQ biosynthesis pathway and studies of supplementation with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ring analogs have opened a new area in the field of primary CoQ deficiencies treatment. Here, we will review these studies, focusing on efficacy of the different 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ring analogs, models in which they have been tested, and their mechanisms of action. Understanding how these compounds ameliorate biochemical, molecular, and/or clinical phenotypes of CoQ deficiencies is important to develop the most rational treatment for CoQ deficient patients, depending on their molecular defects.
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