The CO1 protein, or cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, is a component of the cytochrome c oxidase enzyme complex, which is crucial for cellular respiration in insects, as well as in many other organisms. This enzyme plays a key role in the electron transport chain, facilitating the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen, the terminal electron acceptor. This process is vital for the conversion of energy stored in nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the cell.
Insect CO1 is also widely used in molecular ecology and phylogenetics as a genetic marker, particularly in studies involving DNA barcoding to identify and classify species. The CO1 gene is highly conserved across various taxa, making it a reliable target for understanding biodiversity and evolutionary relationships.
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