Adenylthiomethylpentose

Adenylthiomethylpentose is a type of nucleoside that is found in bacteria. It is a derivative of adenosine, which is a nucleoside that is composed of adenine and ribose. Adenylthiomethylpentose is unique in that it contains a sulfur atom in place of one of the oxygen atoms in the ribose ring. This modification is thought to enhance the stability of the nucleoside and increase its resistance to degradation.

Structure and Synthesis

Adenylthiomethylpentose is composed of an adenine base attached to a pentose sugar via a glycosidic bond. The pentose sugar in adenylthiomethylpentose is a thioribose, which is a ribose sugar that has a sulfur atom in place of an oxygen atom. The synthesis of adenylthiomethylpentose involves the enzymatic transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to the sulfur atom of the thioribose.

Function

Adenylthiomethylpentose is thought to play a role in the stability of RNA in bacteria. The presence of the sulfur atom in the ribose ring is thought to increase the resistance of the RNA to degradation by nucleases. This may be particularly important in bacteria that live in harsh environments, where the stability of RNA is critical for survival.

See Also

• Nucleoside
• Adenosine
• S-adenosylmethionine