Methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase

In enzymology, a methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 10-formyltetrahydrofolate + L -methionyl-tRNAfMet + H2O $$\rightleftharpoons$$ tetrahydrofolate + N-formylmethionyl-tRNAfMet

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases that transfer one-carbon groups, specifically the hydroxymethyl-, formyl- and related transferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 10-formyltetrahydrofolate:L-methionyl-tRNA N-formyltransferase. This enzyme participates in three metabolic pathways: methionine metabolism, one carbon pool by folate, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, two structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes and.