B12 10ml/10mg

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble cobalt-corrinoid compound, chemically an organometallic complex with a central cobalt ion in a corrine ring system. In scientific research, it is studied as a model compound for cofactor-linked enzyme catalysis and as a reference standard in analytical work. This compound is offered as a ready-to-use 10 ml solution containing 10 mg, exclusively for laboratory and research purposes.

What is Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)?

Cobalamin is the collective name for a group of corrinoids of which cyanocobalamin (C₆₃H₈₈CoN₁₄O₁₄P) is the generally recognized reference form of the class. The molecule consists of a corrine ring of four pyrrole rings containing a central cobalt ion, a nucleotide side chain with 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole as the lower axial ligand, and an interchangeable upper axial ligand that distinguishes the cobalamin forms. This combination of a transition metal in a macrocyclic environment with an interchangeable coordination position makes the compound a widely used model in bioinorganic chemistry.

In research models, cobalamin derives its significance primarily from the cobalt-carbon bond, the only organometallic bond described in the biochemistry of living systems. In vitro, the derived forms methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin function as cofactors for methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, respectively—two enzymes used in cell models to study methyl transfer and radical-mediated rearrangement reactions. Furthermore, the cobalt-carbon bond is photosensitive and can be homolytically cleaved under controlled illumination, making the compound suitable for photochemical and spectroscopic modeling. Consequently, Vitamin B12 is used as a model compound and reference substance within scientific research.

Research areas

In a laboratory context, Vitamin B12 occurs in the following research areas, among others:

• Enzymological investigation of cobalamin-dependent methyltransferases and methyl transfer via methionine synthase in vitro.
• Mechanistic investigation of radical-mediated rearrangement reactions by adenosylcobalamin-dependent mutases in isolated enzyme systems.
• Bio-inorganic and biophysical model studies of the cobalt-carbon bond, ligand exchange, and coordination chemistry of corrinoids.
• Molecular biological research into cobalamin-binding riboswitches and cobalamin-dependent photoreceptor proteins in microbial cell models.
• Analytical method development and validation (HPLC, UV-Vis spectroscopy, LC-MS) using cobalamin as the reference standard.
• Stability and photodegradation study of corrinoids under controlled conditions.

Each of these applications involves controlled laboratory or preclinical model research.

Vitamin B12 in our research range

Vitamin B12 falls within our range under the ready-to-use liquid research solutions in vials, a category distinct from the freeze-dried powder forms. While cobalamin focuses on metal-bound cofactor chemistry and enzyme catalysis, other components within the same product line have been specifically chosen to cover receptor-bound or signal transduction-oriented targets. These compounds share the liquid presentation form but differ fundamentally in molecular class and investigated mechanism.

Specifications

Shape, handling and storage

Vitamin B12 is supplied as a ready-to-use aqueous solution in a 10 ml vial containing a total of 10 mg. Unlike freeze-dried compounds, reconstitution is not required with this form; the solution can be drawn directly from a laboratory setup for further analysis.

Store the vial refrigerated at 2–8 °C, in a dark place and protected from light, in the original packaging; corrinoids are photosensitive, so light protection requires special attention with this class of substances. Handle the compound with the usual laboratory precautions: work in a clean environment, use suitable personal protective equipment, and prevent cross-contamination with other research materials. Keep the packaging out of reach of unauthorized persons.

Composition and lab results

The starting material for this solution is selected for a controlled purity of ≥ 99% (HPLC). The content of the vial is expressed as the amount of substance per unit: 10 mg in 10 ml.

You can find an overview of the available analytical documentation on our lab results pageThe reports are collected centrally there, so that you can incorporate the data into your own research records.

Frequently Asked Questions

To which class of substances does Vitamin B12 belong?
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble cobalt-corrinoid compound: an organometallic complex with a cobalt ion in a corrine ring. It is not a peptide and therefore contains no amino acid sequence.

What makes the cobalt-carbon bond interesting for research?
It is the only organometallic bond described in living systems. In research models, this bond is homolytically cleaved to mechanistically study the radical chemistry and photolysis of corrinoids.

What is the difference between the forms of cobalamin?
The forms differ in the superior axial ligand attached to the cobalt ion. Cyanocobalamin is considered the reference form of the class; methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin act as enzyme cofactors in vitro.

How do I save the solution?
Refrigerated at 2–8 °C, in a dark and protected from light, preferably in the original packaging.