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DOI: 10.1055/s-1994-23038
Towards a Total, Genetically Engineered Synthesis of Vitamin B12
Publication History
Publication Date:
22 March 2002 (online)
The complete biosynthetic pathway to vitamin B12 has recently been elucidated in the aerobic organism Pseudomonas denitrificans. By cloning and overexpressing the biosynthetic genes necessary for corrin synthesis it has been possible not only to study the steps catalyzed by each enzyme in turn, but by recombining all twelve enzymes in a single flask with the necessary cofactors, the total synthesis of hydrogenobyrinic acid, an advanced corrinoid precursor of the vitamin has been accomplished in 20% overall yield, from 5-aminolevulinic acid. 1. Introduction 2. The "Early" Stages: From ALA to Precorrin-3 3. The Steps beyond Precorrin-3 in the Aerobic P. denitrificans 4. Multi-enzyme Synthesis of Corrins