title: The History of the Discovery of the Molybdenum Cofactor and Novel Aspects of its Biosynthesis in Bacteria.
abstract: Biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor in bacteria is described with a detailed analysis of each individual reaction leading to the formation of stable intermediates during the synthesis of molybdopterin from GTP. As a starting point, the discovery of molybdopterin and the elucidation of its structure through the study of stable degradation products are described. Subsequent to molybdopterin synthesis, the molybdenum atom is added to the molybdopterin dithiolene group to form the molybdenum cofactor. This cofactor is either inserted directly into specific molybdoenzymes or is further modified by the addition of nucleotides to the molybdopterin phosphate group or the replacement of ligands at the molybdenum center.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Molecular Enzymology, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leimkühler
authors.forename: Margot M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wuebbens
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan