COQ7

clk-1 gene encodes an enzyme that is necessary for ubiquinone biosynthesis. Ubiquinone is a small redox active lipid that is found in all membranes and that is a co-factor in numerous cellular redox processes, including mitochondrial electron transport. As a co-factor, ubiquinone is often involved in processes that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, ubiquinone is one of the main endogenous antioxidants of the cell. When ubiquinone biosyntesis is interrupted by the absence of the CLK-1 enzyme, cells accumulate an intermediate of ubiquinone biosynthesis, demethoxyubiquinone (DMQ).