Cell surface NADH oxidases (ECTO-NOX proteins) with roles in cancer, cellular time-keeping, growth, aging and neurodegenerative diseases

Free Radic Res. 2003 Aug;37(8):795-808. doi: 10.1080/1071576031000083107.

Abstract

ECTO-NOX (because of their cell surface location) proteins comprise a family of NAD(P)H oxidases of plants and animals that exhibit both oxidative and protein disulfide isomerase-like activities. The two biochemical activities, hydroquinone [NAD(P)H] oxidation and protein disulfide--thiol interchange alternate, a property unprecedented in the biochemical literature. A tumor-associated ECTO-NOX (tNOX) is cancer-specific and drug-responsive. The constitutive ECTO-NOX (CNOX) is ubiquitous and refractory to drugs. The physiological substrate for the oxidative activity appears to be hydroquinones of the plasma membrane such as reduced coenzyme Q10. ECTO-NOX proteins are growth-related and drive cell enlargement. Also indicated are roles in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases. The regular pattern of oscillations appears to be related to alpha-helix-beta-structure transitions and serves biochemical core oscillator of the cellular biological clock. Period length is independent of temperature (temperature compensated) and synchrony is achieved through entrainment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Biological Clocks
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology*
  • Coenzymes
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multienzyme Complexes / biosynthesis*
  • Multienzyme Complexes / physiology*
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / biosynthesis*
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / physiology*
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / enzymology*
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Prions / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / metabolism

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Prions
  • Ubiquinone
  • NADH oxidase
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • coenzyme Q10
  • Oxygen