Nonenzymic forms of molybdenum cofactor in legume seeds

In legume seeds, several nonenzymic forms of molybdenum cofactor (Moco), including low-molecular-weight Moco and that bound to thermostabile and thermolabile proteins, as well as a pterin-containing protein, with the fluorescence maximum at 418 nm in its native form, were found and studied. These forms were detected as molybdenum-free precursors to the molybdopterin cofactor, which restored the activity of the Moco-deficient nitrate reductase of the nit-1 Neurospora crassa mutant only after the addition of molybdate. In pea seeds of various genotypes, Moco content correlated with the cultivar productivity, seed size, and protein content. The structure of Moco obtained from plant sources was identical to that from animal sources. In this paper, the authors summarize their own studies conducted over the last five years taking into account data from currently available publications.