[3] Eukaryotes including the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the algae Ostreococcus tauri also use Coenzyme FO.

[5] FO has largely similar redox properties, but cannot carry an electric charge and as a result probably slowly leaks out of the cellular membrane.

[5] F420 plays a central role in redox reactions across diverse organisms, including archaea and bacteria, by participating in methanogenesis, antibiotic biosynthesis, DNA repair and the activation of antitubercular drugs.

Its ability to carry out hydride transfer reactions is enabled by its low redox potential, which is optimized for specific biochemical pathway.

[9][10][11] Delamanid, a drug used to treat multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) in combination with other antituberculosis medications, is activated in the mycobacterium by deazaflavin-dependent nitroreductase (Ddn), an enzyme which uses dihydro-F420 (reduced form).