Convergent pathways to biosynthesis of the versatile cofactor F 420 .

Cofactor F ₄₂₀ is historically known as the methanogenic redox cofactor, having a key role in the central metabolism of methanogens, and archaea in general. Over the past decade, however, it has become evident this cofactor is more widely distributed across archaeal and bacterial taxa, suggesting a broader role for F ₄₂₀ in various metabolic and ecological capacities. In this article, we focus on the recent findings that have led to a deeper understanding of F ₄₂₀ biosynthetic enzymes and metabolites across microorganisms.
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