Occurrence of 5'-Deoxyadenosylcobalamin and Its Physiological Function as the Coenzyme of Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase in a Marine Eukaryotic Microorganism, Schizochytrium limacinum SR21

Abstract

A marine eukaryotic microorganism, Schizochytrium limacinum SR21, had the ability to absorb and accumulate exogenous cobalamin, which was converted to the cobalamin coenzymes 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin (20.1%) and methylcobalamin (29.6%). A considerably high activity (about 38 mU/mg protein) of 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin-dependent methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (EC 5.4.99.2) involved in amino acid and odd-chain fatty acid metabolism was found in the cell homogenate of S. limacinum SR21. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity and characterized.