COX6C
Description
The COX6C (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6C) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 8.
Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6C is an enzyme encoded by the COX6C gene in humans. It plays a crucial role in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, specifically in the terminal enzyme, cytochrome c oxidase (COX). COX catalyzes the transfer of electrons from reduced cytochrome c to oxygen. This complex is composed of 3 catalytic subunits encoded by mitochondrial genes and several structural subunits encoded by nuclear genes. The mitochondrially-encoded subunits are involved in electron transfer, while the nuclear-encoded subunits contribute to the regulation and assembly of the complex. COX6C encodes subunit VIc, which shares 77% amino acid sequence identity with its mouse counterpart. This gene is upregulated in prostate cancer cells. A pseudogene, COX6CP1, is located on chromosome 16p12.
COX6C, also known as cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide VIc, is a subunit of cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV, CIV), the final enzyme in the mitochondrial electron transport chain that drives oxidative phosphorylation. This chain consists of three multi-subunit complexes: succinate dehydrogenase (complex II, CII), ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (cytochrome b-c1 complex, complex III, CIII), and cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV, CIV). Together, they transfer electrons from NADH and succinate to molecular oxygen, generating an electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This gradient powers transmembrane transport and the ATP synthase. Cytochrome c oxidase specifically catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water. Electrons from reduced cytochrome c in the intermembrane space (IMS) are transferred via the dinuclear copper A center (CU(A)) of subunit 2 and heme A of subunit 1 to the active site in subunit 1. This active site is a binuclear center (BNC) formed by heme A3 and copper B (CU(B)). The BNC reduces molecular oxygen to 2 water molecules using 4 electrons from cytochrome c in the IMS and 4 protons from the mitochondrial matrix.
COX6C is also known as -.
