one-carbon fragment

one-·car·bon frag·ment

the formyl group or the methyl group that takes part in transformylation or transmethylation reactions; by means of these reactions, a group containing a single carbon atom is added to a compound being biosynthesized, adding a methyl group (for example, thymidine formation), adding a hydroxymethyl group (as in serine biosynthesis), or closing a ring (for example, purine formation).

one-car·bon frag·ment

(wŭn-kahr'bŏn frag'mĕnt)

The formyl or methyl group that takes part in transformylation or transmethylation reactions; by means of these reactions, a group containing a single carbon atom is added to a compound being biosynthesized, adding a methyl or hydroxymethyl group or closing a ring.