The relative essentiality of the antioxidative function of Coenzyme Q--the interactive role of DT-diaphorase

Abstract

This paper will address two aspects regarding the antioxidative role of coenzyme Q (CoQ): (1) Is the antioxidant function of CoQ primary or secondary (coincidental), i.e. was this molecule selected during evolution to function primarily as an essential functional component of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain and oxidative phosphorylation processes, is its antioxidative capability merely a coincidence of its hydroquinone structure, or was its synthetic enzyme sequence selected on the basis of the advantage to the evolving organism of both functions of CoQ? (2) What is the mechanism whereby the hydroquinone (antioxidant) form of CoQ (CoQH2) is maintained in high proportion in the various and many membranes in which it resides, and in which an obvious electron transfer mechanism to reduce it is not present? The essentiality of the antioxidative role of CoQH2 will be explored and compared to other primary and secondary antioxidants. Recent evidence implicating the two-electron quinone reductase, DT-diaphorase, in the maintenance of the reduced, antioxidant state of CoQ during the oxidative stress of exhaustive exercise will be presented, and a hypothesis concerning the evolutionary significance of DT-diaphorase will be offered.