title: The tetrahydropyranopterin structure of the sulfur-free and metal-free molybdenum cofactor precursor.
abstract: The molybdenum cofactor (Moco), a highly conserved pterin compound coordinating molybdenum (Mo), is required for the activity of all Mo-dependent enzymes with the exception of nitrogenase. Moco is synthesized by a unique and evolutionary old multi-step pathway with two intermediates identified so far, the sulfur-free and metal-free pterin derivative precursor Z and molybdopterin, a pterin with an enedithiolate function essential for Mo ligation. The latter pterin component is believed to form a tetrahydropyranopterin similar to the one found for Moco in the crystal structure of Mo as well as tungsten (W) enzymes. Here we report the spectroscopic characterization and structure elucidation of precursor Z purified from Escherichia coli overproducing MoaA and MoaC, two proteins essential for bacterial precursor Z synthesis. We have shown that purified precursor Z is as active as precursor Z present in E. coli cell extracts, demonstrating that no modifications during the purification procedure have occurred. High resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry afforded a [M + H]+ ion compatible with a molecular formula of C10H15N5O8P. Consequently 1H NMR spectroscopy not allowed structural characterization of the molecule but confirmed that this intermediate undergoes direct oxidation to the previously well characterized non-productive follow-up product compound Z. The 1H chemical shift and coupling constant data are incompatible with previous structural proposals and indicate that precursor Z already is a tetrahydropyranopterin system and carries a geminal diol function in the C1' position.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Technical University of Braunschweig, D-38128 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: José Angel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Santamaria-Araujo
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otte
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nimtz
authors.forename: Ralf R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Mendel
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wray
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D003067:Coenzymes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008982:Molybdenum; D000090006:Molybdenum Cofactors; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011621:Pteridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D008667:Metalloproteins; D008982:Molybdenum; D000090006:Molybdenum Cofactors; D011621:Pteridines; D013455:Sulfur; C022261:molybdopterin