B12

Product Details

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) — Research Grade, ≥98% Purity (HPLC)

Cobalt-containing corrinoid. Cofactor for methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Cell culture reagent. Powder. Lot-specific COA included.

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is a cobalt-containing coordination complex that serves as an essential cofactor for two enzymes in mammalian cells: methionine synthase, which catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from 5-methyltetrahydrofolate to homocysteine to form methionine, and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, which converts methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA for entry into the TCA cycle. It is not a peptide.

The cobalamin structure consists of a corrin ring — a tetrapyrrole-like macrocycle — with a central cobalt ion coordinated to four nitrogen atoms. The upper axial ligand differs between forms: cyanide in cyanocobalamin, methyl in methylcobalamin, and adenosyl in adenosylcobalamin. The lower axial ligand is a 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole nucleotide loop that is unique to cobalamins.

Vitamin B12 is widely used as a cell culture reagent because it supports one-carbon metabolism, nucleotide synthesis, and mitochondrial function in cultured cells. In neural cell models, a physiological dose of B12 enhances recovery from oxidative stress by improving cell survival and promoting neurite elongation, with the effect being more efficient than a high dose.

Supplied as a research-grade powder for in vitro and preclinical research applications. Each lot is independently verified for purity and identity and ships with a Certificate of Analysis.

Specifications

Note: Cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin are different chemical entities with different CAS numbers and molecular weights. The two forms are not interchangeable for documentation purposes. Cyanocobalamin is the form with a USP monograph and is the reference standard for compendial assays. Verify the exact form, molecular weight, and purity against the Certificate of Analysis supplied with your lot.

Research applications

Vitamin B12 is used in laboratory settings to investigate:

• One-carbon metabolism and methylation — methionine synthase activity, homocysteine remethylation, and the folate cycle in hepatocyte and neural cell models

• Mitochondrial function and energy metabolism — methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity and succinyl-CoA production in mitochondrial research models

• Neural cell recovery and neurite outgrowth — a physiological dose of B12 enhances cell survival and promotes neurite elongation in H₂O₂-stressed SH-SY5Y neural-like cells, with more efficient recovery than a high dose

• Cell culture and bioprocessing — B12 is a standard supplement in serum-free and chemically defined media for mammalian cell culture, supporting nucleotide synthesis and cell proliferation

• Neurodegenerative disease models — B12 and B5 alleviate MPP⁺-induced Parkinson’s disease injury in SH-SY5Y cells via regulation of the Bip-PERK-eIF2α-CHOP signaling pathway and improvement of mitochondrial dysfunction

• PC12 cell differentiation research — B12 promotes neurite outgrowth and stimulates differentiation in PC12 cells, with effects linked to MAP kinase pathway enhancement

• Analytical method development — HPLC and UV-Vis quantification and reference standard preparation for cobalamin analysis in biological matrices and pharmaceutical formulations

Handling and storage

Store the powder at 2–8 °C or −20 °C, desiccated and protected from light. Cyanocobalamin is soluble in water at approximately 12.5 mg/mL. Prepare stock solutions under aseptic conditions. Protect aqueous solutions from light and use within 24 hours, as cyanocobalamin is photolabile. Aliquot stock solutions to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Powder is stable for up to 3 years under sealed, desiccated, light-protected conditions.

For laboratory use by qualified personnel only.