SURF1

This gene encodes a protein localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane and thought to be involved in the biogenesis of the cytochrome c oxidase complex. The protein is a member of the SURF1 family, which includes the related yeast protein SHY1 and rickettsial protein RP733. The gene is located in the surfeit gene cluster, a group of very tightly linked genes that do not share sequence similarity, where it shares a bidirectional promoter with SURF2 on the opposite strand. Defects in this gene are a cause of Leigh syndrome, a severe neurological disorder that is commonly associated with systemic cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

Full Name

SURF1, Cytochrome C Oxidase Assembly Factor

Function

Component of the MITRAC (mitochondrial translation regulation assembly intermediate of cytochrome c oxidase complex) complex, that regulates cytochrome c oxidase assembly.

Biological Process

Biological Process aerobic respirationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:ProtInc
Biological Process mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase assemblyManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIMP:UniProtKB
Biological Process respiratory chain complex IV assemblyManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:ProtInc

Cellular Location

Mitochondrion inner membrane

Involvement in disease

Mitochondrial complex IV deficiency, nuclear type 1 (MC4DN1):
An autosomal recessive disorder of the mitochondrial respiratory chain characterized by early-onset, rapidly progressive encephalopathy, neurodegeneration, and loss of motor and cognitive skills. Affected individuals show hypotonia, failure to thrive, loss of the ability to sit or walk, poor communication, poor eye contact, oculomotor abnormalities, as well as deafness, ataxia, tremor, and brisk tendon reflexes. Brain imaging shows bilateral symmetric lesions in the basal ganglia. Lactate levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid are increased. Patient tissues show decreased levels and activity of mitochondrial respiratory complex IV. Death in childhood may occur, often due to central respiratory failure.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 4K (CMT4K):
An autosomal recessive, demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, characterized by progressive weakness and atrophy, initially of the peroneal muscles and later of the distal muscles of the arms. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is classified in two main groups on the basis of electrophysiologic properties and histopathology: primary peripheral demyelinating neuropathies (designated CMT1 when they are dominantly inherited) and primary peripheral axonal neuropathies (CMT2). Demyelinating neuropathies are characterized by severely reduced nerve conduction velocities (less than 38 m/sec), segmental demyelination and remyelination with onion bulb formations on nerve biopsy, slowly progressive distal muscle atrophy and weakness, absent deep tendon reflexes, and hollow feet. By convention autosomal recessive forms of demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are designated CMT4. CMT4K patients manifest upper and lower limbs involvement. Some affected individuals have nystagmus and late-onset cerebellar ataxia.