Colloquium with Andrea Mattevi (University of Pavia, Italy)

On 5 May 2026, Andrea Mattevi (University of Pavia, Italy) will present insights to his current research as part of the SNP2Prot Colloquium Series.

Speaker: Andrea Mattevi (University of Pavia, Italy)
Title: The Enzymology of a Metabolon

Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Time: 12:30 pm
Location: Lecture hall (GHS) of Biochemistry, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3 (Weinberg Campus), 06120 Halle (Saale)

Abstract: Coenzyme Q, CoQ, is an essential antioxidant ubiquitous in nature. CoQ biosynthesis in humans has thus far been attributed to ten different proteins with many coalescing into a large assembly coined the ‘COQ metabolon’. Metabolons are protein assemblies that channel substrates within a metabolic pathway, however, their general aptitude for enzymatic biocatalysis remains poorly understood and several CoQ biosynthetic steps, including C1-decarboxylation and C1-hydroxylation steps, remain enigmatic in our understanding. To elucidate the prerequisites for CoQ biosynthesis and moreover, assess the physicochemical properties of the metabolon, we sought out to construct the entire metabolon in vitro. We employed an innovative evolution-engineering approach rooted by ancestral sequence reconstruction, in addition to spectrophotometric and biophysical assays, and analytical techniques to monitor CoQ biosynthesis. Our findings suggest that metabolons possess heightened catalytic efficiency, consist of an intricate and dynamic number of protein interactions, and are overseen by chaperoning and organisational protein mitigators.

Acknowledgement: ERC project MetaQ

References:
Nicoll, C.R., Alvigini, L., Gottinger, A. et al. In vitro construction of the COQ metabolon unveils the molecular determinants of coenzyme Q biosynthesis. Nat Catal 7, 148–160 (2024).
Wang D, Gottinger A, et aI. Complete Enzyme Clustering Enhances Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis via Substrate Channeling. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 28:2025.05.24.655883

If you like to meet with the speaker, please contact the host, Milton T. Stubbs.

See all upcoming SNP2Prot colloquia listed here: https://snp2prot.uni-halle.de/events/category/colloquium/

The SNP2Prot Colloquium Series is integrated to the

• Halle Plant Science Colloquium (HPSC) – https://www.landw.uni-halle.de/prof/pflanzenernaehrung/hpsc/
• IPB Seminar Series – https://www.ipb-halle.de/forschung/symposien-und-kolloquien/vortraege/ipb-seminare