| Definition | Flavin mononucleotide, also known as riboflavin 5'-monophosphate or riboflavine dihydrogen phosphate, is a member of the class of compounds known as flavin nucleotides. Flavin nucleotides are nucleotides containing a flavin moiety. Flavin is a compound that contains the tricyclic isoalloxazine ring system, which bears 2 oxo groups at the 2- and 4-positions. Flavin mononucleotide is practically insoluble (in water) and a moderately acidic compound (based on its pKa). Flavin mononucleotide can be found in a number of food items such as spinach, elliott's blueberry, tea leaf willow, and black mulberry, which makes flavin mononucleotide a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Flavin mononucleotide can be found primarily in blood, as well as throughout most human tissues. Flavin mononucleotide exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. In humans, flavin mononucleotide is involved in several metabolic pathways, some of which include riboflavin metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, and doxorubicin metabolism pathway. Flavin mononucleotide is also involved in several metabolic disorders, some of which include beta ureidopropionase deficiency, UMP synthase deficiency (orotic aciduria), carnosinuria, carnosinemia, and hypophosphatasia. Moreover, flavin mononucleotide is found to be associated with anorexia nervosa. Flavin mononucleotide (FMN), or riboflavin-5′-phosphate, is a biomolecule produced from riboflavin (vitamin B2) by the enzyme riboflavin kinase and functions as prosthetic group of various oxidoreductases including NADH dehydrogenase as well as cofactor in biological blue-light photo receptors. During the catalytic cycle, a reversible interconversion of the oxidized (FMN), semiquinone (FMNH•) and reduced (FMNH2) forms occurs in the various oxidoreductases. FMN is a stronger oxidizing agent than NAD and is particularly useful because it can take part in both one- and two-electron transfers. In its role as blue-light photo receptor, (oxidized) FMN stands out from the 'conventional' photo receptors as the signaling state and not an E/Z isomerization . |
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