Atypical kinase COQ8A, mitochondrial

Atypical kinase involved in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q, also named ubiquinone, an essential lipid-soluble electron transporter for aerobic cellular respiration. Its substrate specificity is unclear: does not show any protein kinase activity. Probably acts as a small molecule kinase, possibly a lipid kinase that phosphorylates a prenyl lipid in the ubiquinone biosynthesis pathway, as suggested by its ability to bind coenzyme Q lipid intermediates. Shows an unusual selectivity for binding ADP over ATP.