Cobalamin biosynthesis

In molecular biology, cobalamin biosynthesis is the synthesis of cobalamin (vitamin B12). In molecular biology, cobalamin biosynthesis is the synthesis of cobalamin (vitamin B12). Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is a structurally complex cofactor, consisting of a modified tetrapyrrole with a centrally chelated cobalt. Cobalamin is usually found in one of two biologically active forms: methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. Most prokaryotes, as well as animals, have cobalamin-dependent enzymes, whereas plants and fungi do not appear to use it. In bacteria and archaea, these enzymes include methionine synthase, ribonucleotide reductase, glutamate and methylmalonyl-CoA mutases, ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, and diol dehydratase. In certain mammals, cobalamin is obtained through the diet, and is required for methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. There are at least two distinct cobalamin biosynthetic pathways in bacteria: