Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,948 studies31 sourcesUpdated 10 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYExperimental & Molecular Medicine

CoQ10 oxidoreductases in ferroptosis and cancer: redox regulation and therapeutic opportunities

  • Jumi Lee1
  • Inhwan Yoo1,2
  • Minseok Kim1
  • Hyeonseok Kim1
  • Namgyu Lee3
  1. 1Department of Biomedical Science & Systems Biology, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
  2. 2Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
  3. 3Department of Biomedical Science & Systems Biology, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea. [email protected]
Open at sourcePDFDOICite

Abstract

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) is a highly conserved lipophilic redox cofactor that mediates electron transport in mitochondria and protects cells against oxidative stress. Increasing evidence has revealed that CoQ 10 and its associated oxidoreductases serve as critical regulators of ferroptosis—an iron-dependent, lipid peroxidation-driven form of cell death. Here we provide an updated overview of the canonical CoQ 10 biosynthetic pathway and the established functions of key CoQ 10 oxidoreductases. We highlight emerging insights into ferroptosis-suppressive roles of enzymes such as FSP1, DHODH and SQOR, which act by regenerating ubiquinol (CoQ 10 H 2 , reduced). In addition, we discuss newly identified CoQ 10 -related enzymes and their mechanistic contributions to ferroptosis regulation. By integrating perspectives from biochemistry, metabolism and cancer biology, this review positions CoQ 10 oxidoreductases as promising targets for ferroptosis-based cancer therapies.

Related

  1. Extracellular vesicles in the immune regulation of hematological malignancies: mechanisms, prognostic significance, and therapeutic opportunities
    Tuya Wang, Jing Fu, Ye Huang +2
    Frontiers in cell and developmental biologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral biochemistryEurope PMC
  2. Crosstalk between PI3K/AKT signaling and epigenetic regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
    Zhibo Zhang, Jie Liu, Guofeng Lei +1
    Frontiers in cell and developmental biologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textMolecular biology & gene regulationEurope PMCPMC
  3. Editorial: Lipid signaling in immunity: from inflammation and ageing to cancer and therapeutic opportunities
    Juan Pablo Rodríguez, Mauricio César De Marzi, Jesús Balsinde
    Frontiers in ImmunologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textMolecular biology & gene regulationCrossref
  4. Changing Course: Semaphorins and Plexins as Novel Therapeutic Opportunities and Key Regulators of Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment
    Nicolò Bertalmio, Francesca Anna Lourdes Marino, Serena Brundu +2
    International Journal of Molecular SciencesPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0General biochemistryCrossref
  5. The microbiome-metabolome axis in colorectal cancer therapy resistance: mechanisms, mediators, and therapeutic opportunities
    Anoud Khan, Aryan Tareen, Anusha Abdul Muqeet Farid +5
    Frontiers in OncologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Molecular biology & gene regulationCrossref

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{lee2026coq10,
  title = {{CoQ10 oxidoreductases in ferroptosis and cancer: redox regulation and therapeutic opportunities}},
  author = {Jumi Lee and Inhwan Yoo and Minseok Kim and Hyeonseok Kim and Namgyu Lee},
  journal = {Experimental \& Molecular Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1038/s12276-026-01736-w},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-026-01736-w},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - CoQ10 oxidoreductases in ferroptosis and cancer: redox regulation and therapeutic opportunities
AU  - Jumi Lee
AU  - Inhwan Yoo
AU  - Minseok Kim
AU  - Hyeonseok Kim
AU  - Namgyu Lee
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/03
JO  - Experimental & Molecular Medicine
DO  - 10.1038/s12276-026-01736-w
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-026-01736-w
AB  - Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) is a highly conserved lipophilic redox cofactor that mediates electron transport in mitochondria and protects cells against oxidative stress. Increasing evidence has revealed that CoQ 10 and its associated oxidoreductases serve as critical regulators of ferroptosis—an iron-dependent, lipid peroxidation-driven form of cell death. Here we provide an updated overview of the canonical CoQ 10 biosynthetic pathway and the established functions of key CoQ 10 oxidoreductases. We highlight emerging insights into ferroptosis-suppressive roles of enzymes such as FSP1, DHODH and SQOR, which act by regenerating ubiquinol (CoQ 10 H 2 , reduced). In addition, we discuss newly identified CoQ 10 -related enzymes and their mechanistic contributions to ferroptosis regulation. By integrating perspectives from biochemistry, metabolism and cancer biology, this review positions CoQ 10 oxidoreductases as promising targets for ferroptosis-based cancer therapies.
SN  - 1226-3613
SN  - 2092-6413
ER  -