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CHCHD9 — Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9
CHCHD9 — Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">CHCHD9 — Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>CHCHD9</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>9q34.11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55033" target="_blank">55033</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000177303" target="_blank">ENSG00000177303</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td><a href="https://www.omim.org/entry/614295" target="_blank">614295</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8N5L4" target="_blank">Q8N5L4</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Class</td>
<td>Mitochondrial CHCHD family</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Diseases</td>
<td>[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Brain (cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), cerebellum), heart, skeletal muscle</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a
CHCHD9 — Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">CHCHD9 — Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>CHCHD9</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>9q34.11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55033" target="_blank">55033</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000177303" target="_blank">ENSG00000177303</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td><a href="https://www.omim.org/entry/614295" target="_blank">614295</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8N5L4" target="_blank">Q8N5L4</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Class</td>
<td>Mitochondrial CHCHD family</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Diseases</td>
<td>[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Brain (cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), cerebellum), heart, skeletal muscle</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
CHCHD9 Gene
Gene Overview
CHCHD9 (Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-Coil-Helix Domain Containing 9) is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein that plays critical roles in mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, and cellular stress response. The gene is located on chromosome 9q34.11 and encodes a protein containing the conserved CHCHD domain, which is typically found in mitochondrial proteins involved in electron transport chain assembly and maintenance.
CHCHD9 is a member of the CHCHD protein family, which includes CHCHD1, CHCHD2, CHCHD3, CHCHD4, CHCHD6, CHCHD8, and CHCHD10. These proteins share a unique structural motif consisting of two coiled-coil helices connected by a loop that coordinates metal ions essential for mitochondrial electron transport chain function.
Function
Mitochondrial Structure and Function
CHCHD9 plays essential roles in maintaining mitochondrial structure and function:
Mitochondrial Morphology
- Inner membrane organization: CHCHD9 contributes to maintaining cristae structure and inner membrane integrity
- Protein complex assembly: Assists in the proper assembly of electron transport chain complexes
- Mitochondrial dynamics: Regulates fission and fusion processes affecting mitochondrial morphology
CHCHD9 supports proper oxidative phosphorylation through several mechanisms:
| Complex | Role of CHCHD9 |
|---------|---------------|
| Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase) | Assembly and stability |
| Complex III (Cytochrome bc1) | Electron transfer |
| Complex IV (Cytochrome c oxidase) | Assembly and function |
| Complex V (ATP synthase) | Coupling efficiency |
Electron Transport Chain
The CHCHD domain proteins are characterized by their ability to:
- Coordinate metal ions (typically zinc) essential for protein stability
- Form disulfide bonds that stabilize the protein structure
- Interact with other mitochondrial proteins in the electron transport chain
Cellular Stress Response
CHCHD9 participates in cellular stress response pathways:
Oxidative Stress Response
- ROS detection: Responds to changes in reactive oxygen species levels
- Antioxidant pathway activation: Triggers cellular antioxidant responses
- DNA damage repair: Contributes to mitochondrial DNA maintenance
- Pro-apoptotic signaling: Modulates programmed cell death pathways
- Bcl-2 family interactions: Interacts with mitochondrial apoptosis regulators
- Cytochrome c release: Influences release of apoptotic factors
Protein Interactions
CHCHD9 interacts with several key mitochondrial proteins:
| Interactor | Function | Reference |
|------------|----------|-----------|
| CHCHD2 | Mitochondrial protein complex | [@wang2019] |
| CHCHD10 | Protein stability | [@wang2019] |
| Complex I subunits | ETC assembly | [@ors2017] |
| Complex IV subunits | ETC assembly | [@ors2017] |
| Mitochondrial DNA | Genome maintenance | [@dev2016] |
| HAX1 | Anti-apoptotic function | [@hansson2019] |
Expression
Tissue Distribution
CHCHD9 is expressed in various tissues with high expression in:
- Brain: Highest expression in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus
- Heart: Significant expression in cardiac muscle
- Skeletal Muscle: High expression in muscle fibers
- Liver: Moderate expression in hepatocytes
- Kidney: Expression in renal tubules
Brain Regional Expression
Within the brain, CHCHD9 shows regional specificity:
| Region | Expression Level | Cell Type |
|--------|-----------------|-----------|
| Cerebral Cortex | High | Pyramidal neurons |
| Hippocampus | High | CA1-CA3 pyramidal cells |
| Cerebellum | Moderate | Purkinje cells |
| Substantia Nigra | Moderate | Dopaminergic neurons |
| Basal Ganglia | Moderate | Medium spiny neurons |
Cellular Localization
Within cells, CHCHD9 localizes to:
- Mitochondrial matrix: Primary location
- Inner mitochondrial membrane: Associated with ETC complexes
- Mitochondrial cristae: Enriched in cristae junctions
- Mitochondrial nucleoid: Associated with mitochondrial DNA
Regulation of Expression
CHCHD9 expression is regulated by:
- Transcriptional factors: PGC-1α co-activation
- Cellular energy status: AMPK-mediated regulation
- Oxidative stress: Nrf2-dependent activation
- Developmental stage: Tissue-specific expression patterns
Disease Associations
Parkinson's Disease (PD)
CHCHD9 has been implicated in Parkinson's disease through several mechanisms:
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Complex I deficiency: CHCHD9 dysfunction may contribute to Complex I impairment observed in PD
- ATP production deficits: Reduced oxidative phosphorylation capacity
- Mitochondrial membrane potential loss: Altered mitochondrial health
- GWAS signals: CHCHD9 is located in a chromosomal region linked to PD susceptibility
- Expression studies: Altered CHCHD9 levels in PD patient brains
- Variant effects: Potential pathogenic variants affect mitochondrial function
- Mitochondrial dysfunction may influence α-synuclein aggregation
- CHCHD9 pathway alterations may promote α-synuclein toxicity
Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
Evidence suggests CHCHD9 plays a role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis:
Mitochondrial Failure
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of AD
- CHCHD9 contributes to mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits
- Reduced ATP production affects neuronal viability
- Increased ROS production in AD brains
- CHCHD9 dysfunction exacerbates oxidative damage
- Impaired antioxidant response
- Amyloid-beta affects mitochondrial function
- CHCHD9 pathway may be disrupted by amyloid-beta
- Therapeutic targeting may restore mitochondrial function
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
CHCHD9 relevance to ALS:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is prominent in ALS
- CHCHD family members (especially CHCHD10) implicated in ALS
- CHCHD9 may contribute to motor neuron vulnerability
Other Neurodegenerative Conditions
- Huntington's Disease: Mitochondrial dysfunction involvement
- Frontotemporal Dementia: CHCHD10 mutations linked to FTD
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: Mitochondrial function in peripheral neuropathy
Therapeutic Implications
Target Rationale
CHCHD9 represents a therapeutic target for:
Therapeutic Strategies
| Strategy | Approach | Status |
|----------|----------|--------|
| Mitochondrial enhancers | Improve ETC function | Preclinical |
| Antioxidant therapy | Reduce oxidative stress | In development |
| Gene therapy | Increase CHCHD9 expression | Experimental |
| Small molecule stabilizers | Stabilize CHCHD9 protein | Discovery |
Challenges
- Achieving mitochondrial delivery
- Maintaining proper protein folding
- Balancing mitochondrial dynamics
Cross-Links
- [Mitochondrial dysfunction](/mechanisms/mitochondrial-dysfunction)
- [Oxidative stress](/mechanisms/oxidative-stress)
- [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease)
- [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
- [Electron Transport Chain](/mechanisms/electron-transport-chain)
- [Apoptosis in Neurodegeneration](/mechanisms/apoptosis)
See Also
- [Mitochondrial Dysfunction Mechanisms](/mechanisms/mitochondrial-dysfunction)
- [Oxidative Stress in Neurodegeneration](/mechanisms/oxidative-stress)
- [Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
- [Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
- [CHCHD Protein Family](/proteins/chchd-protein-family)
External Links
- [NCBI Gene: CHCHD9](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55033)
- [Ensembl: ENSG00000177303](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000177303)
- [UniProt: Q8N5L4](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8N5L4)
- [OMIM: 614295](https://www.omim.org/entry/614295)
- [HGNC](https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/)
References
▸Metadataorigin_type: v1_polymorphic_backfill
| slug | genes-chchd9 |
| kg_node_id | CHCHD9 |
| entity_type | gene |
| origin_type | v1_polymorphic_backfill |
| source_table | wiki_pages |
| wiki_page_id | wp-d626feae71c2 |
| __merged_from | {'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'genes-chchd9'} |
| _schema_version | 1 |
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