MWFE is a short subunit of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase found in eukaryotes. It is necessary for the activity of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex I in mitochondria. This subunit is essential for the assembly and function of the enzyme. MWFE is found to be phosphorylated, eg in rat heart mitochondria. The short family includes much of a signal peptide.

1: The NDUFA1 gene product (MWFE protein) is essential for activity of complex I in mammalian mitochondria. Au HC, Seo BB, Matsuno-Yagi A, Yagi T, Scheffler IE; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999;96:4354-4359. PMID:10200266

2: Sequences of 20 subunits of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase from bovine heart mitochondria. Application of a novel strategy for sequencing proteins using the polymerase chain reaction. Walker JE, Arizmendi JM, Dupuis A, Fearnley IM, Finel M, Medd SM, Pilkington SJ, Runswick MJ, Skehel JM; J Mol Biol 1992;226:1051-1072. PMID:1518044

3: Investigations of the potential effects of phosphorylation of the MWFE and ESSS subunits on complex I activity and assembly. Yadava N, Potluri P, Scheffler IE; Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2008;40:447-460. PMID:17931954