MT-CO2

protein-coding

mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase II, the group of Mitochondrially encoded protein coding genes|Mitochondrial complex IV: cytochrome c oxidase subunits

Gene summary

Contributes to cytochrome-c oxidase activity. Predicted to be involved in mitochondrial electron transport, cytochrome c to oxygen and positive regulation of vasoconstriction. Located in mitochondrial inner membrane. Part of respiratory chain complex IV. Biomarker of Huntington's disease and stomach cancer. [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]

Previous symbols:
  • MTCO2

MANE transcript

N/A

Inheritance

Mitochondrial, AR, Maternal

ClinVar variants

—

Top phenotype

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency

Max pathogenic AF

—

Genomic locus

chrM:7,586-8,269

External References & Databases

Transcript & Mutation Effects

hg38 • Region Span ~0.7 kb
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GenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations

Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns

mitochondrial diseaseDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0044970

Submitter: ClinGen

The relationship between *MT-CO2* and primary mitochondrial disease was evaluated using the ClinGen Clinical Validity Framework as of July 11, 2023. The *MT-CO2* gene encodes cytochrome *c* oxidase (complex IV) subunit 2, which is one of the three core subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV holoenzyme and is required for both complex assembly and catalysis. Defects of this protein lead to complex IV deficiency. *MT-CO2* was first reported in relation to maternally-inherited primary mitochondrial disease in 1999 in an individual with progressive gait ataxia, bilateral optic atrophy, pigmentary retinopathy, and distal muscle wasting (PMID: 10205264). Other associated features have been reported over time. While various names have been given to the constellation of features seen in those with *MT-CO2*-related disease, pathogenic variants in this gene cause a primary mitochondrial disease. Therefore, the *MT-CO2* phenotype has been lumped into one disease entity according to the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Framework. Of note, *MT-CO2* was first curated by this GCEP for its association with Leigh syndrome spectrum (LSS) on May 17, 2021 (SOP v8), with a final classification of limited. This current curation for the association with primary mitochondrial disease includes cases with LSS. Evidence supporting the gene-disease relationship between *MT-CO2* and primary mitochondrial disease includes case-level data and experimental data. This curation includes eight variants (m.7587T>C, m.7671T>A, m.7896G>A, m.7630del, m.8156dup, m.8156del, m.8163A>G, m.8088del) in eight probands in eight publications (PMIDs: 10205264, 10486321, 11558799, 18245391, 23616164, 28521807, 30315213, 31167410). Single fiber testing further supported the pathogenicity of several of these variants (PMIDs: 31167410, 28521807, 23616164, 11558799, 10486321, 10205264 ). Age of onset in affected individuals ranged from childhood to the mid-40s. Clinical features in affected individuals included LSS, myopathy, muscle wasting, ataxia, epilepsy, stroke-like episodes, global developmental delay, cognitive decline, psychosis, axonal sensorimotor neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, optic atrophy, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Brain imaging was variable and ranged from normal to findings consistent with LSS, cerebral and cerebellar atrophy, and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Muscle biopsies showed ragged red fibers, COX-deficient fibers, lipid accumulation, subsarcolemmal accumulation of mitochondria, and complex IV deficiency. Metabolic screening labs showed elevated lactate. Heteroplasmy levels in affected individuals were highest in muscle when multiple tissues were assessed (56-95% in muscle, undetectable to 67% in blood, 33-49% in buccal, undetectable to 89% in skin fibroblasts, and undetectable to 49% in urine). Segregation evidence is scored as case-level data according to the criteria established by the Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel. The mechanism of pathogenicity appears to be loss of function resulting in specific loss of complex IV activity. This gene-disease relationship is also supported by known biochemical function and in vitro functional assays demonstrating altered mitochondrial function as a result of variants in *MT-CO2* (PMIDs: 23965802, 30030519). In summary, there is definitive evidence to support the relationship between *MT-CO2* and primary mitochondrial disease. This relationship has been repeatedly demonstrated in both the research and clinical diagnostic settings and has been upheld over time. This classification was approved by the NICHD/NINDS U24 ClinGen Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel on July 11, 2023 (SOP Version 9).

MELAS syndromeSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0010789

Submitter: Orphanet

Leigh syndromeLIMITED

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0009723

Submitter: ClinGen

The relationship between MT-CO2 and Leigh syndrome spectrum was evaluated using the ClinGen Clinical Validity Framework as of May 17, 2021. The MT-CO2 gene encodes cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) subunit 2. Defects of this protein lead to complex IV deficiency. The first and only report of maternally inherited Leigh syndrome spectrum related to the MT-CO2 gene was in 2017 (PMID: 28521807). Evidence supporting this gene-disease relationship includes case-level data and experimental data. This curation included one variant (m.8156del) in one case from one publication (PMID: 28521807). Segregation information is scored as case level evidence according to criteria established by the Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel. Other variants in the MT-CO2 gene are associated with non-Leigh syndrome spectrum phenotypes. Loss of function is implicated as the mechanism of disease. This gene-disease association is also supported by known protein interaction and expression (PMIDs: 30030519, 25613900). In summary, there is limited evidence to support this gene-disease relationship. While more evidence is needed to establish this relationship definitively, no convincing evidence has emerged that contradicts the gene-disease relationship. This classification was approved by the NICHD U24 ClinGen Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel on May 17, 2021 (SOP Version 8).

cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency diseaseSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009068

Submitter: Orphanet

Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiencyMaternal

Manifestation: Biochemical; Neurologic; Ophthalmologic

Intervention: General

Rationale: Genetic knowledge may be beneficial related to issues such as selection of optimal supportive care, informed medical decision-making, prognostic considerations, and avoidance of unnecessary testing

Refs: 10205264Source: CGD (NHGRI)

ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes

Reported disease conditions connected to MT-CO2 variants in ClinVar

0 Conditions Cataloged

No annotated ClinVar phenotypes.

ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type

Statistics based on transcript . Only rare variants are included.

We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.

Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.

EffectPLPVUSLBBSum
synonymous
0
missense
0
nonsense
0
start loss
0
frameshift
0
splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp)
0
Total000000
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Transcript Catalog

Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases

Showing 1 of 1 transcripts
Transcript IDSourceProtein IDCoding ExonsMANE Status
ENST00000361739.1EnsemblENSP00000354876.11Standard

Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways

Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways

Pathways ConsensusPathDB

  • Cardiac muscle contraction - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Alzheimer,s disease - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Huntington,s disease - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Thermogenesis - Homo sapiens (human)

Biological Process

  • mitochondrial electron transport, cytochrome c to oxygen
  • lactation
  • response to cold
  • positive regulation of hydrogen peroxide biosynthetic process
  • positive regulation of necrotic cell death

Molecular Function

  • cytochrome-c oxidase activity
  • copper ion binding
  • protein binding

Cellular Component

  • mitochondrion
  • mitochondrial inner membrane
  • membrane
  • integral component of membrane
  • respiratory chain complex IV

dbNSFP Gene Annotations

Source: dbNSFP

Function
FUNCTION: Cytochrome c oxidase is the component of the respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water. Subunits 1- 3 form the functional core of the enzyme complex. Subunit 2 transfers the electrons from cytochrome c via its binuclear copper A center to the bimetallic center of the catalytic subunit 1.;
Disease
DISEASE: Mitochondrial complex IV deficiency (MT-C4D) [MIM:220110]: A disorder of the mitochondrial respiratory chain with heterogeneous clinical manifestations, ranging from isolated myopathy to severe multisystem disease affecting several tissues and organs. Features include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hepatomegaly and liver dysfunction, hypotonia, muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, developmental delay, delayed motor development and mental retardation. Some affected individuals manifest a fatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy resulting in neonatal death. A subset of patients manifest Leigh syndrome. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10486321}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.;

Essentials

Indispensability pred.
N
Indispensability score
0.114
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