MT-CO1


 * "Cox1" redirects here. Particularly in a medical context, this can also refer to is_associated_with::cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1).

Mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I (MT-CO1), also known as cytochrome c oxidase I (COX1), is a is_associated_with::protein that is found in is_associated_with::mitochondria. In humans, the is_associated_with::gene encoding it is named mt-co1. In other is_associated_with::eukaryotes, the gene is called cox1 or COI.

Function
MT-CO1 belongs to is_associated_with::cytochrome c oxidase subunit I protein family. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1 or MT-CO1) is one of three is_associated_with::mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encoded subunits (MT-CO1, is_associated_with::MT-CO2, is_associated_with::MT-CO3) of respiratory complex IV. Complex IV is the third and final enzyme of the electron transport chain of mitochondrial is_associated_with::oxidative phosphorylation.

Application
It is a gene that is often used as "barcode of life" in is_associated_with::DNA barcoding to identify species. MT-CO1 gene sequence is suitable for this role because its is_associated_with::mutation rate is often fast enough to distinguish closely related is_associated_with::species and also because its sequence is conserved among conspecifics. Contrary to the primary objection raised by skeptics that MT-CO1 sequence differences are too small to be detected between closely related species, more than 2% sequence divergence has been detected between such organisms, proving the barcode effective. In most if not all is_associated_with::seed plants, however, the rate of evolution of cox1 is very slow.