COX5 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU05457 (COX5, cya-4) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 2 encodes a cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 family protein with cytochrome-c oxidase activity and redox activity. The gene product localises to the mitochondrial inner membrane as part of respiratory chain complex IV and is associated with mitochondrial electron transport, cellular respiration, proton transmembrane transport, and oxidative phosphorylation. NCU05457 has been linked to numerous phenotypes including decreased oxidative phosphorylation, absent respiratory metabolism, increased mitochondrial rho- mutation frequency, abnormal pseudohyphal growth, altered pheromone sensitivity, decreased cell cycle progression in S phase, increased survival rate in stationary phase, and abnormal autophagy. The gene is also associated with altered nitrogen source utilisation, decreased fermentative growth, absent desiccation resistance, and abnormal chitin deposition. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to mitochondrial genome maintenance and cell cycle regulation.