| Abstract: | Factor F430 from Methanogenic Bacteria: Structure of the Porphninoid Ligand System A structure is proposed for F430M, a non-cristalline methanolysis product of isolates of the nickel-containing, porphinoid factor F430 from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. Crucial to the structure determination are five incorporation experiments with M. thermoautotrophicum (strain Marburg) in which the specifically mono-13C-labeled biosynthetic precursors (2-13C), (3-13C), (4-13C)-, (5-13C) ALA (ALA = δ-amino-levulinic acid) and L-(methyl-13C)methionine were incorporated into F430 with high efficiency. The 13C-NMR,-spectra of the specifically labeled F430M samples derived therefrom, together with the UV./VIS. spectral data of F430M, contain all the information necessary for the deduction of the constitution of the F430M chromophore, assuming the established pattern of porphinoid biosynthesis to be operative in F430 biosynthesis. 1H-NMR. spectroscopy and, in particular, 1H-NMR.-NOE-difference spectroscopy corroborates and completes the constitutional assignments and, furthermore, makes possible an almost complete derivation of the molecule's relative configuration. Schemes 3 and 4 summarize the results of 1H-NMR. spectroscopy, presenting them within the context of the proposed structure for F430M. The assignment of absolute configuration implied in the formula is given preference because of F430M's very close structural and (assumed) biosynthetic relationship to sirohydrochlorin and vitamin B12 (with respect to ring C, the assignment is based on degradative evidence). According to the proposed structure, the nickel complex F430M possesses an uroporphinoid (Type III) ligand skeleton with an additional carbocyclic ring and a chromophore system not previously encountered among natural porphinoids. It can be considered to be a (tetrahydro) derivative of the corphin system, combining structural elements of both porphyrins and corrins. |
