Atypical kinase COQ8A, mitochondrial (COQ8A)

Atypical kinase involved in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q, also named ubiquinone, an essential lipid-soluble electron transporter for aerobic cellular respiration (PubMed:25498144, PubMed:21296186, PubMed:25540914, PubMed:27499294). Its substrate specificity is unclear: does not reveal any protein kinase activity (PubMed:25498144, PubMed:27499294).

Probably acts as a small molecule kinase, maybe a lipid kinase that phosphorylates a prenyl lipid from the ubiquinone biosynthesis pathway, as indicated by its ability to bind coenzyme Q lipid intermediates (PubMed:25498144, PubMed:27499294). Shows an unusual selectivity for binding ADP over ATP (PubMed:25498144).