Fig. 5. COX17 reduces mitochondrial copper content and restores respiratory chain complex IV activity.

a The copper content was detected in the cytosol and mitochondria in the kidneys of the UUO model (n = 5). b Copper content was detected in the mitochondria of NRK-52E cells after 48 h of TGF-β1 treatment (n = 3). c, d Copper content was detected in the mitochondria of control, COX17-overexpressing and knockdown cell lines treated with TGF-β1 (n = 3). e, f The relative activities of respiratory chain complexes I, II, III and IV in control and COX17-overexpressing cell lines treated with TGF-β1 (n = 3). g The relative activity of respiratory chain complex IV in control and COX17-knockdown cell lines treated with TGF-β1 (n = 3). h MD simulations of COX1 and COX2. i MD simulation of COX1_2. j MD simulation of COX1_2 at 0 ns. k MD simulation of COX2_4. l MD simulation of COX2_4 at 0 ns. Data are the mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001. COX1_1, COX1-Cu¹⁺(1); COX1_2, COX1-Cu¹⁺(2); COX2_2, COX2-Cu¹⁺(2); COX2_4, COX2-Cu¹⁺(4). ns indicates no significance.