Methylcobalamin

Systematic (IUPAC) name
carbanide; cobalt(3+);
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Routes of administration	oral,sublingual,injection.
Legal status
Legal status	US: OTC
Identifiers
CAS Number	13422-55-4 Y
ATC code	B03BA05 (WHO)
PubChem	CID 6436232
UNII	BR1SN1JS2W N
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1697757 N
Chemical data
Formula	C63H91CoN13O14P
Molar mass	1344.40 g/mol
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Methylcobalamin (mecobalamin, MeCbl, or MeB₁₂) is a cobalamin, a form of vitamin B₁₂. It differs from cyanocobalamin in that the cyanide is replaced with a methyl group.^[1] Methylcobalamin features an octahedral cobalt(III) centre and can be obtained as bright red crystals.^[2] From the perspective of coordination chemistry, methylcobalamin is notable as a rare example of a compound that contains metal-alkyl bonds. Nickel-methyl intermediates have been proposed for the final step of methanogenesis.

Methylcobalamin is equivalent physiologically to vitamin B₁₂, and can be used to prevent or treat pathology arising from a lack of vitamin B₁₂ (vitamin B12 deficiency), such as pernicious anemia.

Methylcobalamin is also used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and as a preliminary treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Methylcobalamin is not sufficient as a singular source of vitamin B₁₂. Hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin can both be split by the body into methylcobalamin and adenosylcoblamin. Methylcobalamin on the other hand is not converted into adenosylcobalamin. Deficiency of adenosylcobalamin disturbs carbohydrate, fat and amino-acid metabolism. Thereby it is important to treat vitamin B₁₂ deficiency with hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin or a combination of adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin.^[3]

Production[edit]

Methylcobalamin physically resembles the other forms of vitamin B₁₂, occurring as dark red crystals that freely form cherry-colored transparent solutions in water.

Methylcobalamin can be produced in the laboratory by reducing cyanocobalamin with sodium borohydride in alkaline solution, followed by the addition of methyl iodide.^[2]

Functions[edit]

This vitamer is one of two active coenzymes used by vitamin B₁₂-dependent enzymes and is the specific vitamin B₁₂ form used by 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase (MTR), also known as methionine synthase.^{[citation needed]}

Methylcobalamin participates in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, which is a pathway by which some organisms utilize carbon dioxide as their source of organic compounds. In this pathway, methylcobalamin provides the methyl group that couples to carbon monoxide (derived from CO₂) to afford acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA is a derivative of acetic acid that is converted to more complex molecules as required by the organism.^[4]

Methylcobalamin is produced by some bacteria. It plays an important role in the environment. In the environment, it is responsible for the biomethylation of certain heavy metals. For example, the highly toxic methylmercury is produced by the action of methylcobalamin.^[5] In this role, methylcobalamin serves as a source of "CH₃⁺".

A lack of methylcobalamin can lead to megaloblastic anemia and subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.^[6]

See also[edit]

• Cobamamide
• Cyanocobalamin
• Hydroxocobalamin
• Vitamin B12

References[edit]