Methanofuran


Methanofurans are a family of chemical compounds found in methanogenic archaea. These species feature a 2-aminomethylfuran linked to phenoxy group. At least three different end groups are recognized: R = tricarboxyheptanoyl, glutamyl-glutamyl, tricarboxy-2-hydroxyheptanoyl.

Formylation of MFR

Methanofuran converts to formylmethanofuran in an early stage of methanogenesis.
The enzyme formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase formylates methanofuran using, the primary C1 source in methanogenesis.

Deformylation of MFR

The enzyme formylmethanofuran:tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of the formyl group from formylmethanofuran to N5 on tetrahydromethanopterin,. This enzyme has been crystallized; it contains no prosthetic group.