Complementation of Escherichia coli ubiF mutation by Caenorhabditis elegans CLK-1, a product of the longevity gene of the nematode worm

FEBS Lett. 2003 May 22;543(1-3):174-8. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00419-8.

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans CLK-1 was identified from long-lived mutant worms, and is believed to be involved in ubiquinone biosynthesis. The protein belongs to the eukaryotic CLK-1/Coq7p family, which is also similar to the bacterial Coq7 family, that hydroxylates demethoxyubiquinone, resulting in the formation of hydroxyubiquinone, a precursor of ubiquinone. In Escherichia coli, the corresponding reaction is catalyzed by UbiF, a member of a distinct class of hydroxylase. Although previous studies suggested that the eukaryotic CLK-1/Coq7 family is a hydroxylase of demethoxyubiquinone, there was no direct evidence to show the enzymatic activity of the eukaryotic CLK-1/Coq7 family. Here we show that the plasmid encoding C. elegans CLK-1 supported aerobic respiration on a non-fermentable carbon source of E. coli ubiF mutant strain and rescued the ability to synthesize ubiquinone, suggesting that the eukaryotic CLK-1/Coq7p family could function as bacterial UbiF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Longevity
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Ubiquinone / biosynthesis

Substances

  • CLK-1 protein, C elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Ubiquinone
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • UbiF protein, E coli