The Oxa2 Protein ofNeurospora crassaPlays a Critical Role in the Biogenesis of Cytochrome Oxidase and Defines a Ubiquitous Subbranch of the Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 Protein Family

• DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e03-11-0789
• Publication Date: 2004-02-10T01:44:21Z
• Authors: Soledad Funes; Frank E. Nargang; Walter Neupert; Johannes M. Herrmann
• Keywords: Crassa; Alternative oxidase; Protein family

Proteins of the Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 family mediate insertion proteins into membranes mitochondria, bacteria, and chloroplasts. Here we report identification a second gene in genome Neurospora crassa, which have named oxa2. Its product, Oxa2, is located inner membrane mitochondria. Deletion oxa2 caused specific defect biogenesis cytochrome oxidase resulted induction alternative (AOD), bypasses need for complex IV respiratory chain. The Oxa2 protein N. crassa complements Cox18-deficient yeast mutants suggesting common function both proteins. sequence allowed new subfamily whose members appear to be ubiquitously present mitochondria fungi, plants, animals including humans.