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Biosynthesis

Resurrecting an ancient coenzyme Q metabolon

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The coenzyme Q biosynthetic pathway has evaded full characterization for decades, in part due to the inherent insolubility of coenzyme Q and the instability of its membrane-associated biosynthetic enzymes. Now, researchers have resurrected an active ancestral coenzyme Q metabolon in vitro that has unveiled valuable insights into previously uncharacterized aspects of coenzyme Q biosynthesis.

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Fig. 1: The biochemistry of coenzyme Q biosynthesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kelsey J. Feustel & Catherine F. Clarke

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  1. Kelsey J. Feustel
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  2. Catherine F. Clarke
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Correspondence to Catherine F. Clarke.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Feustel, K.J., Clarke, C.F. Resurrecting an ancient coenzyme Q metabolon. Nat Catal 7, 117–119 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-024-01111-w

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