The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the complex I 9kDa subunit family. Mammalian complex I of mitochondrial respiratory chain is composed of 45 different subunits. This protein has NADH dehydrogenase activity and oxidoreductase activity. It transfers electrons from NADH to the respiratory chain. The immediate electron acceptor for the enzyme is believed to be ubiquinone. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in humans identified the COXFA4 as a mitochondrial gene overexpressed in sepsis patients compared to healthy controls, where lower expression was associated with significantly higher 28-day survival rates and demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy with an AUC of 0.988 [Li et al. DOI:10.1186/s12920-024-01891-x]. In a review of mouse models of myocardial infarction, the COXFA4 was identified as a marker enriched in a high-energy metabolic ventricular cardiomyocyte cluster [Bian et al. DOI:10.3892/mmr.2025.13680].