Coenzyme B12 (hydrate) (Synonyms: Adenosylcobalamin, AdoCbl, Cobamamide, Dibenzcozamide, LM-176)

Coenzyme B₁₂ (adenosylcobalamin; AdoCbl) is a biologically active form of vitamin B₁₂ . It belongs to the corrinoid group of compounds, which contain a corrin macrocycle, and is produced only by certain bacteria and archaea.¹ It is a cofactor for various enzymes including mutases, eliminases, aminomutases, and a reductase.² These enzymes catalyze reactions that generate free radicals through release of the adenosyl group, allowing usually unreactive molecules to become reactive. Only one of these enzymes, methylmalonyl CoA mutase, is found in mammals, therefore, the other enzymes must be taken in through the diet. Genetic mutations in enzymes that synthesize AdoCbl lead to AdoCbl deficiency and methylmalonic aciduria.³ Formulations containing AdoCbl are used to treat patients with this disorder.

1.Moore, S.J., Lawrence, A.D., Biedendieck, R., et al.Elucidation of the anaerobic pathway for the corrin component of cobalamin (vitamin B12)Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA110(37)14906-14911(2015) 2.Marsh, E.N.G., and MelÉndez, G.D.R.Adenosylcobalamin enzymes: Theory and experiment begin to convergeBiochim Biophys. Acta.1824(11)1154-1164(2012) 3.Watkins, D.N., Rosenblatt, D.S., and Flower, B.Adenosylcobalamin deficiencyInborn metabolic diseases: Diagnosis and treatment(2016)