Other vitamin B12-dependent enzymes

Other vitamin B12-dependent enzymes is a collective term for a diverse group of enzymes that require cobalamin (vitamin B12) as a cofactor, excluding the two primary enzymes found in humans: methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. This group is predominantly found in bacteria, archaea, and some lower eukaryotes, and includes enzymes such as class II ribonucleotide reductases, glycerol dehydratases, ethanolamine ammonia-lyases, and various aminomutases. These enzymes facilitate critical biochemical reactions, including DNA synthesis, anaerobic fermentation, and the rearrangement of carbon skeletons, which are essential for the survival and environmental adaptation of many microorganisms. In a therapeutic context, these enzymes are significant as potential targets for anti-infective and antibacterial agents. Because humans lack these specific enzymes, drugs designed to inhibit them can selectively disrupt the metabolism or replication of pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Clostridium species without directly interfering with human physiology. Research in this area often focuses on developing small-molecule inhibitors or cobalamin analogs that can block the active sites of these enzymes, thereby providing a novel mechanism for treating bacterial infections, particularly those resistant to conventional antibiotics.

Other names

Cobalamin-dependent enzymesB12-dependent enzymesNon-human B12-dependent enzymesBacterial B12-dependent enzymes

Inhibition of microbial-specific metabolic pathways or DNA replication by blocking cobalamin-dependent enzymatic activity.