Mutations in COQ4, an essential component of coenzyme Q biosynthesis, cause lethal neonatal mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

摘要

Background The identification of the molecular basis of mitochondrial disorders continues to be challenging and expensive. The increasing usage of next-generation sequencing is facilitating the discovery of the genetic aetiology of heterogeneous phenotypes associated with these conditions. Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes and other biochemical pathways. Mutations in genes involved in CoQ(10) biosynthesis cause primary CoQ(10) deficiency syndromes that can be treated with oral supplementation of ubiquinone.