Oxygen determines the requirement for cobalamin but not riboflavin in the growth of Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

ABSTRACT: Vitamin B₁₂ (cobalamin, hereafter B₁₂) is essential for human health, particularly for neural function and DNA synthesis. It is synthesized exclusively by bacteria and archaea, with animal-derived foods serving as the primary sources for humans. Propionibacterium freudenreichii is notable for its long-standing use in food production, its efficient B₁₂ biosynthesis, and its minimal production of inactive pseudovitamin B₁₂. This efficiency is largely attributed to its oxygen-dependent synthesis of 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMBI), the lower ligand of vitamin B₁₂, via the BluB enzyme. Additionally, the synthesis of another B-group vitamin, riboflavin (hereafter B₂), may influence DMBI production by providing precursor molecules

SUBMITTER: Zhang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12307835 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature