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Biological chemistry

The making of Moco

Nature exploits the unique chemistry of molybdenum in many reactions. Structures of the enzyme Cnx1 reveal unexpected mechanisms for slotting the metal ion into its reactive position in the cofactor Moco.

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Figure 1: Four biosynthetic steps to the active molybdenum cofactor, Moco.

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Hunter, W. The making of Moco. Nature 430, 736–737 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/430736a

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