Respiratory supercomplexes and the functional segmentation of the CoQ pool

Abstract

The evidence accumulated during the last fifteen years on the existence of respiratory supercomplexes and their proposed functional implications has changed our understanding of the OXPHOS system complexity and regulation. The plasticity model is a point of encounter accounting for the apparently contradictory experimental observations claimed to support either the solid or the fluid models. It allows the explanation of previous observations such as the dependence between respiratory complexes, supercomplex assembly dynamics or the existence of different functional ubiquinone pools. With the general acceptation of respiratory supercomplexes as true entities, this review evaluates the supporting evidences in favor or against the existence of different ubiquinone pools and the relationship between supercomplexes, ROS production and pathology.

Keywords: CoQ pool; OXPHOS system; Plasticity model; ROS; Respiratory supercomplex; mETC assembly.