B12 Peptide

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) is a water-soluble essential cofactor widely used in peptide research settings to ensure optimal metabolic conditions. As a key player in cellular energy production, red blood cell formation, and methylation pathways, B12 provides the stable metabolic foundation that allows researchers to accurately assess peptide effects without confounding variables. The compound is a highly complex essential vitamin of the B-complex family and is the most common and chemically stable vitamer, as it is the easiest to crystallize and purify after bacterial fermentation. Vitamin B12 is synthesized almost exclusively by bacteria and is found in dietary sources such as fish, meat, liver, and dairy products. It is used as a drug to correct vitamin B12 deficiency and to treat pernicious anemia.

Vitamin B12 exerts its effects as an essential cofactor for two key enzymes in human metabolism: methionine synthase and L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Methionine synthase catalyzes the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, a critical step in the synthesis of methionine and the regulation of homocysteine levels. L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is involved in the conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA, linking lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. In the body, cyanocobalamin is converted into its bioactive coenzyme forms—methylcobalamin and cobamamide (adenosylcobalamin)—which serve as essential cofactors for these metabolic processes. Vitamin B12 is also required for the normal development of red blood cells and plays a critical role in maintaining the methylation cycle, which is fundamental to numerous cellular processes including DNA synthesis, neurotransmitter production, and detoxification pathways.

• Peptide Research and Metabolic Support: Employed as a foundational cofactor in peptide studies to maintain metabolic homeostasis and ensure accurate assessment of peptide effects without confounding variables.
• Nutritional and Metabolic Research: Investigated as an essential cofactor for studying one-carbon metabolism, homocysteine regulation, and methionine synthesis.
• Hematology Research: Employed in studies on megaloblastic anemia, pernicious anemia, and red blood cell development.
• Neurological Research: Studied for its role in myelin synthesis and neurological function, with deficiency linked to neurological impairment.
• Cobalamin Metabolism and Transport: Utilized as a tool to study cobalamin absorption (dependent on Castle's intrinsic factor and haptocorrin), transport via transcobalamins, and intracellular metabolism.
• Cell Culture and Microbiology: Used as a supplement in cell culture media and as a growth factor for certain bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus lactis).

CAS Number: 68-19-9
PubChem CID: 16212801; also reported as 129893524
Molecular Formula: C₆₃H₈₈CoN₁₄O₁₄P; also reported as C₆₃H₈₉CoN₁₄O₁₄P
Molecular Weight: 1,355.37–1,355.39 g/mol
Appearance: Red to dark red to dark purple powder or crystals
Purity: ≥ 99%
Form: Lyophilized powder or crystalline powder
Storage: Store at 2–8°C (refrigerated) for long-term storage, or at ≤ -20°C in a cool, dry place, protected from light
Solubility: Soluble in water (12,500 mg/L); prepare working solutions per laboratory protocol