MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF CORRINOIDS III

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Abstract
Burgus, R. C. (Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.), J. B. Hufham, W. M. Scott, and J. J. Pfiffner . Microbial degradation of corrinoids. III. Pigments derived from vitamin B 12 by Pseudomonas rubescens . J. Bacteriol. 88: 1139–1144. 1964.—Products derived from vitamin B 12 by Pseudomonas rubescens under anaerobic conditions were examined. After incubation of the organism in broth containing Co 57 - or P 32 - vitamin B 12 , electrophoresis of the extracted corrinoids yielded two major, yellow, radioactive fractions, designated A and B, with spectral and electrophoretic properties similar to pigments I and II, derived from vitamin B 12 by Aerobacter aerogenes . Fractions A and B were essentially inactive in promoting the growth of Lactobacillus leichmannii . Chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose separated both fractions A and B into four yellow, radioactive fractions. The absorption spectrum of each of the major subfractions showed a maximum in the ultraviolet region characteristic of a 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole nucleotide, but lacked a maximum in the 360-mμ region characteristic of vitamin B 12 and many of its analogues and derivatives. The pigments were stable to cyanide and, although they were more stable to air and light than were the vitamin B 12 coenzymes and coenzyme analogues, they were apparently slowly decomposed by light. The data suggest that the bacteria alter the corrin nucleus of vitamin B 12 .