Work

Naphthoquinone preferentially pairs with non-proton-pumping NADH dehydrogenase for respiratory electron transport

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Optimal resource allocation is crucial to bacterial physiology and necessitates strategic metabolic decisions. One such evolutionary adaptation was the shift to high-potential respiratory chains following Earth's Great Oxidation Event. Respiratory quinones, key redox-active electron carrier molecules, evolved from naphthoquinones (NQs) to ubiquinones (UQs) in response to oxygen availability. The two quinone types differ in their redox potential, with UQs possessing higher potential. Therefore, NQs are more autooxidizable and electron-leaky than UQs. Using adaptive laboratory evolution of a NQ-dependent Escherichia coli strain, we previously showed the fitness advantage of high-potential quinones. Here, we resolve a paradoxical growth benefit conferred by the loss of function of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex regulator, revealing that NQs preferentially pair with the non-proton-pumping NADH dehydrogenase, thereby optimizing electron transport in low-potential respiratory chains under aerobic conditions.

Source: PLoS Genetics

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011877

Authors: Snehal V. Khairnar, Anjali V. Patil, L. Karvannan, Amitesh Anand

Institution: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

Language: English

Topic: Coenzyme Q10 studies and effects

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,043

Funders: University of California, San Diego, Science and Engineering Research Board