succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit A
Last updated 1 May 2023
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The SDHA gene provides instructions for making one of four parts (subunits) of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme. The SDH enzyme plays a critical role in mitochondria, which are structures inside cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use.
Normal function
The SDHA gene provides instructions for making one of four parts (subunits) of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme. The SDH enzyme plays a critical role in mitochondria, which are structures inside cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use.
Within mitochondria, the SDH enzyme links two important pathways in energy conversion: the citric acid cycle (or Krebs cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation. As part of the citric acid cycle, the SDH enzyme converts a compound called succinate to another compound called fumarate. Negatively charged particles called electrons are released during this reaction. The SDHA protein is the active subunit of the enzyme that performs the conversion of succinate, and it also helps transfer electrons to the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. In oxidative phosphorylation, the electrons help create an electrical charge that provides energy for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell's main energy source.
Succinate, the compound on which the SDH enzyme acts, is an oxygen sensor in the cell and can help turn on specific pathways that stimulate cells to grow in a low-oxygen environment (hypoxia). In particular, succinate stabilizes a protein called hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) by preventing a reaction that would allow HIF to be broken down. HIF controls several important genes involved in cell division and the formation of new blood vessels in a hypoxic environment.
The SDHA gene is a tumour suppressor gene, which means it prevents cells from growing and dividing in an uncontrolled way.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
CMD1GG
DHSA_HUMAN
flavoprotein subunit of complex II
FP
SDH1
SDH2
SDHF
succinate dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] flavoprotein subunit, mitochondrial
succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit
succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A, flavoprotein (Fp)
succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit A, flavoprotein (Fp)
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Further reading and references
- succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit A; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Belinsky MG, Rink L, von Mehren M. Succinate dehydrogenase deficiency in pediatric and adult gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Front Oncol. 2013 May 17;3:117. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00117. eCollection 2013.
- Burnichon N, Briere JJ, Libe R, Vescovo L, Riviere J, Tissier F, Jouanno E, Jeunemaitre X, Benit P, Tzagoloff A, Rustin P, Bertherat J, Favier J, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP. SDHA is a tumor suppressor gene causing paraganglioma. Hum Mol Genet. 2010 Aug 1;19(15):3011-20. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddq206. Epub 2010 May 18.
- Gill AJ. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient neoplasia. Histopathology. 2018 Jan;72(1):106-116. doi: 10.1111/his.13277.
- Horvath R, Abicht A, Holinski-Feder E, Laner A, Gempel K, Prokisch H, Lochmuller H, Klopstock T, Jaksch M. Leigh syndrome caused by mutations in the flavoprotein (Fp) subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (SDHA). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;77(1):74-6. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2005.067041.
- Janeway KA, Kim SY, Lodish M, Nose V, Rustin P, Gaal J, Dahia PL, Liegl B, Ball ER, Raygada M, Lai AH, Kelly L, Hornick JL; NIH Pediatric and Wild-Type GIST Clinic; O'Sullivan M, de Krijger RR, Dinjens WN, Demetri GD, Antonescu CR, Fletcher JA, Helman L, Stratakis CA. Defects in succinate dehydrogenase in gastrointestinal stromal tumors lacking KIT and PDGFRA mutations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jan 4;108(1):314-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1009199108. Epub 2010 Dec 20.
- Korpershoek E, Favier J, Gaal J, Burnichon N, van Gessel B, Oudijk L, Badoual C, Gadessaud N, Venisse A, Bayley JP, van Dooren MF, de Herder WW, Tissier F, Plouin PF, van Nederveen FH, Dinjens WN, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP, de Krijger RR. SDHA immunohistochemistry detects germline SDHA gene mutations in apparently sporadic paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Sep;96(9):E1472-6. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-1043. Epub 2011 Jul 13.
- Opocher G, Schiavi F. Genetics of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Dec;24(6):943-56. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2010.05.001.
- Parfait B, Chretien D, Rotig A, Marsac C, Munnich A, Rustin P. Compound heterozygous mutations in the flavoprotein gene of the respiratory chain complex II in a patient with Leigh syndrome. Hum Genet. 2000 Feb;106(2):236-43. doi: 10.1007/s004390051033.
- Qin Y, Buddavarapu K, Dahia PL. Pheochromocytomas: from genetic diversity to new paradigms. Horm Metab Res. 2009 Sep;41(9):664-71. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1215590. Epub 2009 Apr 23.
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