Vitamin B12 - Structure

Structure

B₁₂ is the most chemically complex of all the vitamins. The structure of B₁₂ is based on a corrin ring, which is similar to the porphyrin ring found in heme, chlorophyll, and cytochrome. The central metal ion is cobalt. Four of the six coordination sites are provided by the corrin ring, and a fifth by a dimethylbenzimidazole group. The sixth coordination site, the center of reactivity, is variable, being a cyano group (-CN), a hydroxyl group (-OH), a methyl group (-CH₃) or a 5'-deoxyadenosyl group (here the C5' atom of the deoxyribose forms the covalent bond with Co), respectively, to yield the four B₁₂ forms mentioned below. Historically, the covalent C-Co bond is one of first examples of carbon-metal bonds to be discovered in biology. The hydrogenases and, by necessity, enzymes associated with cobalt utilization, involve metal-carbon bonds.

Vitamin B₁₂ is a generic descriptor name referring to a collection of cobalt and corrin ring molecules which are defined by their particular vitamin function in the body. All of the substrate cobalt-corrin molecules from which B₁₂ is made, must be synthesized by bacteria. However, after this synthesis is complete, the body has a limited power to convert any form of B₁₂ to another, by means of enzymatically removing certain prosthetic chemical groups from the cobalt atom. The various forms (vitamers) of B₁₂ are all deeply red colored, due to the color of the cobalt-corrin complex.

Cyanocobalamin is one such "vitamer" in this B complex, because it can be metabolized in the body to an active co-enzyme form. However, the cyanocobalamin form of B₁₂ does not occur in nature normally, but is a byproduct of the fact that other forms of B₁₂ are avid binders of cyanide (-CN) which they pick up in the process of activated charcoal purification of the vitamin after it is made by bacteria in the commercial process. Since the cyanocobalamin form of B₁₂ is easy to crystallize and is not sensitive to air-oxidation, it is typically used as a form of B₁₂ for food additives and in many common multivitamins. However, this form is not perfectly synonymous with B₁₂, in as much as a number of substances (vitamers) have B₁₂ vitamin activity and can properly be labeled vitamin B₁₂, and cyanocobalamin is but one of them. (Thus, all cyanocobalamin is vitamin B₁₂, but not all vitamin B₁₂ is cyanocobalamin). Pure cyanocobalamin possesses the deep pink color associated with most octahedral cobalt(II) complexes and the crystals are well formed and easily grown up to millimeter size.

Hydroxocobalamin is another form of B₁₂ commonly encountered in pharmacology, but which is not normally present in the human body. Hydroxocobalamin is sometimes denoted B_12a. This form of B₁₂ is the form produced by bacteria, and is what is converted to cyanocobalmin in the commercial charcoal filtration step of production. Hydroxocobalamin has an avid affinity for cyanide ion and has been used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning. It is supplied typically in water solution for injection. Hydroxocobalamin is thought to be converted to the active enzymic forms of B₁₂ more easily than cyanocobalamin, and since it is little more expensive than cyanocobalamin, and has longer retention times in the body, has been used for vitamin replacement in situations where added reassurance of activity is desired. Intramuscular administration of hydroxocobalamin is also the preferred treatment for pediatric patients with intrinsic cobalamin metabolic diseases, for vitamin B₁₂ deficient patients with tobacco amblyopia (which is thought to perhaps have a component of cyanide poisoning from cyanide in cigarette smoke); and for treatment of patients with pernicious anemia who have optic neuropathy.

Adenosylcobalamin (adoB₁₂) and methylcobalamin (MeB₁₂) are the two enzymatically active cofactor forms of B₁₂ that naturally occur in the body. Most of the body's reserves are stored as adoB₁₂ in the liver.