Molybdenum cofactor biosynthetic pathway

The molybdenum cofactor biosynthetic pathway comprises a sequence of conserved enzymatic steps that produce the molybdenum cofactor (Moco), a pterin-based ligand essential for the function of almost all molybdoenzymes. These enzymes catalyze key redox reactions in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism in diverse organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals[1][2][3][4][5][6]. Genes and enzymes involved in this pathway include those that synthesize cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP), convert cPMP to molybdopterin (MPT), insert molybdate to form Moco, and potentially modify Moco by nucleotide addition[1][2][3]. Defects in this pathway result in the loss of the function of all molybdoenzymes, causing severe metabolic disorders, but the pathway itself is not a traditional drug or therapeutic target as defined for individual receptors or enzymes[1][4][5][6].

Other names

Moco biosynthetic pathwayMolybdenum cofactor biosynthesis