Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

The anaerobic biosynthesis of vitamin B12

Moore, Simon J., Warren, Martin J. (2012) The anaerobic biosynthesis of vitamin B12. Biochemical Society Transactions, 40 (3). pp. 581-586. ISSN 0300-5127. (doi:10.1042/BST20120066) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34200)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BST20120066

Abstract

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a cobalt-containing modified tetrapyrrole that is an essential nutrient for higher animals. Its biosynthesis is restricted to certain bacteria and requires approximately 30 enzymatic steps for its complete de novo construction. Remarkably, two distinct biosynthetic pathways exist, which are termed the aerobic and anaerobic routes. The anaerobic pathway has yet to be fully characterized due to the inherent instability of its oxygen-sensitive intermediates. Bacillus megaterium, a bacterium previously used for the commercial production of cobalamin, has a complete anaerobic pathway and this organism is now being used to investigate the anaerobic B12 pathway through the application of recent advances in recombinant protein production. The present paper provides a summary of recent findings in the anaerobic pathway and future perspectives.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1042/BST20120066
Uncontrolled keywords: Anaerobic biosynthesis; Bacillus megaterium; Chelatase; Cobalt; Vitamin B 12
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Lin Riches
Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2013 10:09 UTC
Last Modified: 05 Nov 2024 10:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34200 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.