title: Structural diversity among methanofurans from different methanogenic bacteria.
abstract: An examination of the methanofurans isolated from a wide range of methanogenic bacteria and from Archaeoglobus fulgidus has revealed at least five chromatographically distinct methanofurans. Bacteria from each major genus of methanogenic bacteria have been found to contain a chemically different methanofuran. The nature of the differences in the methanofurans appears to lie in the modification of the side chain attached to the basic core structure of 4-[N-(gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamyl)-p-(beta-aminoethyl)phenoxyme thy l]-2-(amino-methyl)furan. This was supported by the structural elucidation of the methanofuran isolated from Methanobrevibacter smithii, designated methanofuran-c, which was the same as the originally characterized methanofuran except for a hydroxy group at the 2 position of the 4,5-dicarboxyoctanedioic acid moiety of the molecule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000032:analysis*; D005663:Furans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; C044289:carbon dioxide reduction factor