ETQ-QO links the oxidation of
fatty acids and some
amino acids to oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria. Specifically, it catalyzes the transfer of electrons from
electron transferring flavoprotein (ETF) to ubiquinone, reducing it to ubiquinol. The entire sequence of transfer reactions is as follows:[5]
Enzymatic activity is usually assayed
spectrophotometrically by reaction with
octanoyl-CoA as the electron donor and ubiquinone-1 as the electron acceptor. The enzyme can also be assayed via
disproportionation of ETF semiquinone. Both reactions are below:[7][8]
Octanoyl-CoA + Q1 ↔ Q1H2 + Oct-2-enoyl-CoA
2 ETF1- ↔ ETFox + ETF2-
Structure
ETF-QO consists of one structural domain with three functional domains packed in close proximity: a FAD domain, a 4Fe4S cluster domain, and a UQ-binding domain.[5]FAD is in an extended conformation and is buried deeply within its functional domain. Multiple hydrogen bonds and a
positive helix dipole modulate the redox potential of FAD and can possibly stabilize the anionic
semiquinone intermediate. The 4Fe4S cluster is also stabilized by extensive hydrogen bonding around the cluster and its
cysteine components. Ubiquinone binding is achieved through a deep hydrophobic binding pocket which is a different mode than other UQ-binding proteins such as
succinate-Q oxidoreductase. Although ETF-QO is an integral membrane protein, it does not traverse the entire membrane unlike other UQ-binding proteins.[5]
Mechanism
The exact mechanism for the reduction is unknown, although there are two hypothesized pathways. The first pathway is the transferral of electrons from one electron reduced ETF one at a time to the lower potential FAD center. One electron is transferred from the reduced FAD to the iron cluster, resulting in a two electron reduced state with one electron each on the FAD and cluster domains. Then, the bound ubiquinone is reduced to ubiquinol, at least transiently forming the singly reduced semiubiquinone. The second pathway involves the donation of electrons from ETF to the iron cluster, followed by internal transitions between the two electron centers. After equilibration, the rest of the pathway follows as above.[5]
Clinical significance
Deficiency of ETF-QO results in a disorder known as
glutaric acidemia type II (also known as MADD for multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency), in which there is an improper buildup of fats and proteins in the body.[9] Complications can involve
acidosis or
hypoglycemia, with other symptoms such as general weakness, liver enlargement, increased heart failure, and
carnitine deficiency. More severe cases involve congenital defects and full metabolic crisis.[10][11][12] Genetically, it is an autosomal recessive disorder, making its occurrence fairly rare. Most affected patients are the result of single point mutations around the FAD ubiquinone interface.[13][14] Milder forms of the disorder have been responsive to
riboflavin therapy and are coined riboflavin-responsive MADD (RR-MADD), although due to the varying mutations causing the disease treatment and symptoms can vary considerably.[15][16]
^Goodman SI, Binard RJ, Woontner MR, Frerman FE (2002). "Glutaric acidemia type II: gene structure and mutations of the electron transfer flavoprotein:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF:QO) gene". Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. 77 (1–2): 86–90.
doi:
10.1016/S1096-7192(02)00138-5.
PMID12359134.
^Olsen RK, Olpin SE, Andresen BS, Miedzybrodzka ZH, Pourfarzam M, Merinero B, Frerman FE, Beresford MW, Dean JC, Cornelius N, Andersen O, Oldfors A, Holme E, Gregersen N, Turnbull DM, Morris AA (Aug 2007). "ETFDH mutations as a major cause of riboflavin-responsive multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenation deficiency". Brain. 130 (Pt 8): 2045–54.
doi:
10.1093/brain/awm135.
PMID17584774.