New concepts on the role of ubiquinone in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Ubiquinone participates in the oxidation-reduction reactions of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In addition, this molecule possesses the necessary properties to function as a hydrogen carrier, thereby stoichiometrically coupling proton translocation to respiration by a direct chemiosmotic mechanism. This review discusses recent experimental evidence and new concepts relating to ubiquinone function in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Emphasis is placed on possible protonmotive mechanisms of ubiquinone function, recent evidence implicating stable forms of ubisemiquinone in the respiratory chain, and properties of the ubiquinone molecule which may relate to its biological function.