CoQ production in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is increased by reduction of glucose levels or deletion of pka1.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an essential component of the electron transport system that produces ATP in nearly all living cells. CoQ is a popular commercial food supplement around the world, and demand for efficient production of this molecule has increased in recent years. In this study, we explored CoQ production in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Functional conservation of coenzyme Q biosynthetic genes among yeasts, plants, and humans.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an essential factor for aerobic growth and oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport system. The biosynthetic pathway for CoQ has been proposed mainly from biochemical and genetic analyses of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae; however, the biosynthetic pathway in higher eukaryotes has been explored in only a limited number of studies. We previously reported the roles of several genes involved in CoQ synthesis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.