Absence of Complex I Is Associated with Diminished Respiratory Chain Function in European Mistletoe (Current Biology)

Maclean et al. show, using biochemical analysis and proteomics, that the hemiparasite Viscum album is the first reported multicellular eukaryote that lacks respiratory complex I. Combined with lower levels of respiratory complexes II-V, a decreased capacity for mitochondrial ATP production is compensated by increased glycolytic carbon flux.