Biomaterial Database

The pterin of the molybdenum cofactor. 1982

K V Rajagopalan, and J L Johnson, and B E Hainline

The molybdenum cofactor common to a variety of molybdoenzymes has been shown to contain a novel pterin. The pterin has been isolated from sulfite oxidase from several sources, xanthine-oxidizing enzymes from milk and chicken liver, and nitrate reductase of Chlorella vulgaris after denaturation of the proteins in the presence of I2. Investigation of the anionic nature of the isolated pterin has revealed that it is a monophosphate ester susceptible to cleavage by alkaline phosphatase. Quantitative analyses have shown that one molecule of the pterin phosphate is associated with each molybdenum atom in sulfite oxidase. Studies to date have shown that the pterin is present in a reduced form in sulfite oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase, and that in situ oxidation of the pterin leads to inactivation of sulfite oxidase.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008892	Milk	The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.	Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D008982	Molybdenum	A metallic element with the atomic symbol Mo, atomic number 42, and atomic weight 95.95. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrate reductase.	Molybdenum-98,Molybdenum 98
D008983	Molybdoferredoxin	A non-heme iron-sulfur protein isolated from Clostridium pasteurianum and other bacteria. It is a component of NITROGENASE, which is active in nitrogen fixation, and consists of two subunits with molecular weights of 59.5 kDa and 50.7 kDa, respectively.	Molybdenum-Iron Protein,FeMo Cofactor,Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor,MoFe Protein,Iron Molybdenum Cofactor,Molybdenum Iron Protein
D009566	Nitrates	Inorganic or organic salts and esters of nitric acid. These compounds contain the NO3- radical.	Nitrate
D010084	Oxidation-Reduction	A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471).	Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D011622	Pterins	Compounds based on 2-amino-4-hydroxypteridine.	Pterin
D002621	Chemistry	A basic science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter; and the reactions that occur between substances and the associated energy exchange.
D003067	Coenzymes	Small molecules that are required for the catalytic function of ENZYMES. Many VITAMINS are coenzymes.	Coenzyme,Enzyme Cofactor,Cofactors, Enzyme,Enzyme Cofactors,Cofactor, Enzyme
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia