Assembly of the oxidative phosphorylation system in humans: what we have learned by studying its defects

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Jan;1793(1):200-11. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2008.05.028. Epub 2008 Jun 21.

Abstract

Assembly of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system in the mitochondrial inner membrane is an intricate process in which many factors must interact. The OXPHOS system is composed of four respiratory chain complexes, which are responsible for electron transport and generation of the proton gradient in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, and of the ATP synthase that uses this proton gradient to produce ATP. Mitochondrial human disorders are caused by dysfunction of the OXPHOS system, and many of them are associated with altered assembly of one or more components of the OXPHOS system. The study of assembly defects in patients has been useful in unraveling and/or gaining a complete understanding of the processes by which these large multimeric complexes are formed. We review here current knowledge of the biogenesis of OXPHOS complexes based on investigation of the corresponding disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
  • Electron Transport / genetics
  • Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / genetics*
  • Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Electron Transport Complex I / genetics
  • Electron Transport Complex I / metabolism
  • Electron Transport Complex III / genetics
  • Electron Transport Complex III / metabolism
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / genetics
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Chaperones / genetics
  • Molecular Chaperones / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • Electron Transport Complex I
  • Electron Transport Complex III