SDHAF1

The succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex (or complex II) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is composed of 4 individual subunits. The protein encoded by this gene resides in the mitochondria, and is essential for SDH assembly, but does not physically associate with the complex in vivo. Mutations in this gene are associated with SDH-defective infantile leukoencephalopathy (mitochondrial complex II deficiency).

Full Name

Succinate Dehydrogenase Complex Assembly Factor 1

Function

Plays an essential role in the assembly of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), an enzyme complex (also referred to as respiratory complex II) that is a component of both the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and the mitochondrial electron transport chain, and which couples the oxidation of succinate to fumarate with the reduction of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) to ubiquinol (PubMed:24954417, PubMed:19465911).
Promotes maturation of the iron-sulfur protein subunit SDHB of the SDH catalytic dimer, protecting it from the deleterious effects of oxidants (PubMed:24954417).
May act together with SDHAF3 (PubMed:24954417).
Contributes to iron-sulfur cluster incorporation into SDHB by binding to SDHB and recruiting the iron-sulfur transfer complex formed by HSC20, HSPA9 and ISCU through direct binding to HSC20 (PubMed:26749241).

Biological Process

Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex II assembly

Cellular Location

Mitochondrion matrix

Involvement in disease

Mitochondrial complex II deficiency, nuclear type 2 (MC2DN2):
A form of mitochondrial complex II deficiency, a disorder with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Some patients have multisystem involvement of the brain, heart, muscle, liver, and kidneys resulting in death in infancy, whereas others have only isolated cardiac or muscle involvement with onset in adulthood and normal cognition. Clinical features include psychomotor regression in infants, poor growth with lack of speech development, severe spastic quadriplegia, dystonia, progressive leukoencephalopathy, muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, cardiomyopathy. Some patients manifest Leigh syndrome or Kearns-Sayre syndrome. MC2DN2 inheritance is autosomal recessive.