title: Biosynthesis of the 7-methylated pterin of methanopterin.
abstract: The incorporation of [15N]glycine and [U-methyl-2H]methionine into methanopterin by growing cells of a methanogenic bacterium was measured to establish the biosynthetic route of the methylated pterin in the structure. The tetrahydromethanopterin produced by the cells was oxidatively cleaved to produce 7-methylpterin, and the amount of label incorporated into this pterin was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the ditrimethylsilyl derivative of this compound. Approximately 27% of the 7-methylpterin and the guanine present in the cell was derived from the fed [15N]glycine. [U-methyl-2H]methionine was incorporated with the initial retention of all three deuteriums. These results are consistent with the biosynthesis of the pterin of methanopterin originating from GTP and its 7-methyl group arising from the methyl group of methionine.
mesh_terms: D003903:Deuterium; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D011621:Pteridines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011622:Pterins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D011621:Pteridines; D011622:Pterins; C045219:7-methylpterin; C036686:methanopterin; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D008715:Methionine; D003903:Deuterium; D005998:Glycine