title: N-furfurylformamide as a pseudo-substrate for formylmethanofuran converting enzymes from methanogenic bacteria.
abstract: Methanofuran (4-[N-(4,5,7-tricarboxyheptanoyl-gamma-L-glutamyl)-gamma-L- glutamyl)-p-(beta-aminoethyl)phenoxymethyl]-2-(aminomethyl)furan is a coenzyme involved in methanogenesis. The N-formyl derivative is an intermediate in the reduction of CO2 to CH4 and the disproportionation of methanol to CO2 and CH4. Formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase and formylmethanofuran:tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase are the enzymes catalyzing its conversions. We report here that the two enzymes from Methanosarcina barkeri and the formyltransferase from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum can also use N-furfurylformamide as a pseudo-substrate albeit with higher apparent Km and lower apparent Vmax values. N-Methylformamide, formamide, and formate were not converted indicating that the furfurylamine moiety of methanofuran is the minimum structure required for the correct binding of the coenzyme.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg/Lahn, FRG.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breitung
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Börner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karrasch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berkessel
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Thauer
mesh_terms: D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005559:Formamides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005663:Furans / Q000378:metabolism*; D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; D007700:Kinetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014166:Transferases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005559:Formamides; D005663:Furans; C065396:N-furfurylformamide; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; C060639:formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase; D014166:Transferases; D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; C050840:formylmethanofuran-tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase