<p>The majority of molybdenum-containing enzymes utilise a molybdenum cofactor (MoCF or Moco) consisting of a Mo atom coordinated via a cis-dithiolene moiety to molybdopterin (MPT). MoCF is ubiquitous in nature, and the pathway for MoCF biosynthesis is conserved in all three domains of life. MoCF-containing enzymes function as oxidoreductases in carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur metabolism [<cite idref="PUB00034759"/>, <cite idref="PUB00034757"/>]. </p> <p>In <taxon tax_id="562">Escherichia coli</taxon>, biosynthesis of MoCF is a three stage process. It begins with the MoaA and MoaC conversion of GTP to the meta-stable pterin intermediate precursor Z. The second stage involves MPT synthase (MoaD and MoaE), which converts precursor Z to MPT; MoeB is involved in the recycling of MPT synthase. The final step in MoCF synthesis is the attachment of mononuclear Mo to MPT, a process that requires MoeA and which is enhanced by MogA in an Mg2 ATP-dependent manner [<cite idref="PUB00034758"/>]. MoCF is the active co-factor in eukaryotic and some prokaryotic molybdo-enzymes, but the majority of bacterial enzymes requiring MoCF, need a modification of MTP for it to be active; MobA is involved in the attachment of a nucleotide monophosphate to MPT resulting in the MGD co-factor, the active co-factor for most prokaryotic molybdo-enzymes. Bacterial two-hybrid studies have revealed the close interactions between MoeA, MogA, and MobA in the synthesis of MoCF [<cite idref="PUB00015635"/>]. Moreover the close functional association of MoeA and MogA in the synthesis of MoCF is supported by fact that the known eukaryotic homologues to MoeA and MogA exist as fusion proteins: CNX1 (<db_xref db="SWISSPROT" dbkey="Q39054"/>) of <taxon tax_id="3702">Arabidopsis thaliana</taxon> (Mouse-ear cress), mammalian Gephryin (e.g. <db_xref db="SWISSPROT" dbkey="Q9NQX3"/>) and <taxon tax_id="7227">Drosophila melanogaster</taxon> (Fruit fly) Cinnamon (<db_xref db="SWISSPROT" dbkey="P39205"/>) [<cite idref="PUB00015921"/>].</p><p>This entry represents MoaA, which belongs to a family of enzymes involved in the synthesis of metallo-cofactors (<db_xref db="INTERPRO" dbkey="IPR000385"/>). Each subunit of the MoaA dimer is comprised of an N-terminal SAM domain (<db_xref db="INTERPRO" dbkey="IPR007197"/>) that contains the [4Fe-4S] cluster typical for this family of enzymes, as well as an additional [4Fe-4S] cluster in the C-terminal domain that is unique to MoaA proteins [<cite idref="PUB00015124"/>]. The unique Fe site of the C-terminal [4Fe-4S] cluster is thought to be involved in the binding and activation of 5'-GTP.</p><p>Mutations in the human MoCF biosynthesis proteins MOCS1, MOCS2 or GEPH cause MoCF Deficiency type A (MOCOD), causing the loss of activity of MoCF-containing enzymes, resulting in neurological abnormalities and death [<cite idref="PUB00015126"/>].</p> Molybdenum cofactor synthesis C-terminal