molybdopterin

{{chembox | Watchedfields = changed | verifiedrevid = 444327795 | ImageFile=MoPterin.png | ImageClass = skin-invert | ImageSize=300px | ImageFile2= | ImageSize2= | IUPACName=[2-amino-4-oxo-6,7-bis(sulfanyl)-3,5,5~{a},8,9~{a},10-hexahydropyrano[3,2-g]pteridin-8-yl]methyl dihydrogen phosphate | OtherNames= |Section1= |Section2= }} thumb|upright=1.25|Four steps of molybdenum cofactor (Moco) biosynthetic pathway occurring in bacteria and humans: (i) radical-mediated cyclization guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) to (8S)‑3,8‐cyclo‑7,8‑dihydroguanosine-5́‑triphosphate (3,8‑cH2GTP), (ii) formation of cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP) from the 3,8‑cH2GTP, (iii) conversion of cPMP into molybdopterin (MPT), (iv) insertion of molybdate into MPT to form Moco (human enzymes in parentheses). Molybdopterins are a class of cofactors found in most molybdenum-containing and all tungsten-containing enzymes. Synonyms for molybdopterin are: MPT and pyranopterin-dithiolate. The nomenclature for this biomolecule can be confusing: Molybdopterin itself contains no molybdenum; rather, this is the name of the ligand (a pterin) that will bind the active metal. After molybdopterin is eventually complexed with molybdenum, the complete ligand is usually called molybdenum cofactor. Molybdopterin is required for all forms of life.

Molybdopterin consists of a pyranopterin, a complex heterocycle featuring a pyran fused to a pterin ring. In addition, the pyran ring features two thiolates, which serve as ligands in molybdo- and tungstoenzymes. In some cases, the alkyl phosphate group is replaced by an alkyl diphosphate nucleotide. Enzymes that contain the molybdopterin cofactor include xanthine oxidase, DMSO reductase, sulfite oxidase, and nitrate reductase.