Talk:Molybdopterin

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Molecular Biology: MCB

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Molecular formula (no Mo, please!)

If the molecule has no molybdenum in it, what is the Mo doing in the molecular formula? Norman Yarvin (talk) 23:35, 15 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Chemical names derive by historical developments. The Molecule was discovered when a molybdenum containing cofactor was broken down. The organic molecule became the name Molybdopterin, although it was the molecule without the molybdenum. The pterin which binds to molybdenum is a good way to put it.--Stone (talk) 06:16, 16 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You missed the point of the question. You gave the reason why there is "moly" in the name, but Norman asks why there's "Mo" in the emprical formula given here: "C10H10MoN5O6PS2". And indeed I can think of no reason it should be there. If there's no Mo in the structural formula, it's rather embarrassing to have it in the empirical formula, no? S B H arris 07:15, 16 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry you are right! The Mo should go. We should have a look into the literature.--Stone (talk) 09:18, 16 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Here it is: http://pathway.gramene.org/META/NEW-IMAGE?type=COMPOUND&object=CPD-4. Empirical Formula: C10H11N5O6PS2 Molecular Weight: 392.32 daltons. I'll fix it. S B H arris 02:42, 17 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]