Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8B, pseudogene (COX8BP)

**Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8B, pseudogene** (COX8BP) is a nonfunctional remnant gene that originated from the nuclear-encoded subunit 8B of cytochrome c oxidase, the enzyme catalyzing the final step in mitochondrial electron transfer. In humans and other catarrhines, evolutionary mutations disabled the gene, so it is not expressed as a protein. While functional orthologs of subunit 8B exist in other species and other primate lineages, in humans COX8L (not COX8BP/COX8H) encodes the only active isoform of subunit 8, which is important for aerobic energy metabolism[1][2]. COX8BP has no known biological function, disease association, clinical significance, or interaction with drugs; it exists only as a pseudogene and should not be considered a valid drug target[2][1][9][6]. Key point: COX8BP is a pseudogene and not a therapeutic or biological target; its existence points to evolutionary changes in mitochondrial protein coding, and it is distinct from the functional subunit 8B found in other species[1][2][6].

Other names

COX8BPCOX8-1COX8H

None