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Updated: May 24, 2026

Imaging and Quantifying Mitochondrial Morphology in C. elegans During Aging
Published on: January 17, 2025
Identification and functional analysis of mitochondrial complex I assembly factor homologues in C. elegans
Daniela van den Ecker1, Mariël A van den Brand, Gerke Ariaans
1Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Abstract:
The biogenesis of mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) requires several assembly chaperones. These so-called complex I assembly factors have emerged as a new class of human disease genes. Here, we identified putative assembly factor homologues in Caenorhabditis elegans. We demonstrate that two candidates (C50B8.3/NUAF-1, homologue of NDUFAF1 and R07H5.3/NUAF-3, homologue of NDUFAF3) clearly affect complex I function. Assembly factor deficient worms were shorter, showed a diminished brood size and displayed reduced fat content. Our results suggest that mitochondrial complex I biogenesis is evolutionarily conserved. Moreover, Caenorhabditis elegans appears to be a promising model organism to study assembly factor related human diseases.
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