Acts as a positive transcriptional regulator of the molybdopterin biosynthesis moa1 locus, promoting the expression of the moaA1B1C1D1 genes. Binds directly to the moaA1 promoter. Expression of MoaR1 appears to be modulated by oxygen availability since it is up-regulated in both microaerophilic (NRP1) and anaerobic (NRP2) cultures compared with aerobic cultures; thus, seems to be up-regulated during the shift into the persistent state in the human host. Belongs to the AfsR/DnrI/RedD regulatory family. Truncated N-terminus.