Elevated cellular accumulation of endogenous and exogenous CoQ by altered intracellular trafficking.

ABSTRACT: Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is produced in the inner membrane of mitochondria, from where it is transported to other cellular membranes. Cellular CoQ levels drop when its synthesis is interrupted, indicating that it can be degraded or eliminated in some way by currently still uncharacterized mechanisms. Low cellular iron availability has been found to lower CoQ levels, at least in part by inhibiting the action of the CoQ biosynthetic enzyme COQ7. These findings prompted us to test the effect of elevated intracellular iron content on CoQ levels. In the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7, we found that supplementation with ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) boosts CoQ levels rapidly and reversibly. Iron loading also increases the cellular accumulation of exogenous CoQ₁₀ provided in the media. N

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12702331 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature