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Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1986 Jan;165(1):215–218. doi: 10.1128/jb.165.1.215-218.1986

Biosynthesis of the 7-methylated pterin of methanopterin.

R H White
PMCID: PMC214391  PMID: 3941042

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.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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