title: Glutathionylcobalamin as an intermediate in the formation of cobalamin coenzymes.
abstract: To evaluate the possible role of glutathionylcobalamin (GS-Cbl) in the intracellular metabolism of cobalamin, the following reactions were analyzed using extracts of rabbit spleen: (i) decyanation of cyanocobalamin; (ii) utilization of GS-Cbl by cobalamin reductase; (iii) participation of GS-Cbl in methionine biosynthesis; and (iv) conversion of GS-Cbl to adenosylcobalamin. Decyanation of cyanocobalamin required reduced glutathione which appeared to form a complex with the cobalamin. This complex decomposed during the extraction steps to sulfitocobalamin which was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Cobalamin reductase in spleen extract was more active with GS-Cbl than with aquocobalamin or cyanocobalamin as substrates (specific activities: 10.4, 2.8 and 0.93 nmol/mg/min, respectively). Methionine synthase utilized GS-Cbl as cofactor more efficiently than aquocobalamin or cyanocobalamin based on initial rates of enzyme activity. This suggests that GS-Cbl is a more direct precursor of the coenzyme required for methionine synthase. Formation of adenosylcobalaminm from GS-Cb1 was four times greater than from aquocobalamin alone. Based on these results, we propose that GS-Cbl or a closely related thiol-cobalamin adduct is a proximal precursor in cobalamin coenzyme biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Hematology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pezacka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D013766:5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001051:Apoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D001711:Biotransformation; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011817:Rabbits; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001051:Apoenzymes; C064617:glutathionylcobalamin; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D008780:Methyltransferases; D013766:5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase; D005978:Glutathione; D014805:Vitamin B 12