VitaminsandCoenzymes.docVIP

Introduction to Vitamins Vitamins are organic molecules that perform a wide variety of functions in the body. The most prominent function is as cofactors for enzymatic reactions. Vitamins generally cannot be synthesized by mammalian cells and, therefore, must be supplied in the diet. The vitamins are classified into two groups. Water Soluble Vitamins Fat Soluble Vitamins Thiamin (B1) Riboflavin (B2) Niacin (B3) Cobalamin (B12) Pantothenic Acid (B5) Pyridoxal, Pyridoxamine, Pyridoxine (B6) Biotin Folic Acid Ascorbic Acid All letter vitamins except Vitamin C Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Vitamins serve as cofactors in enzyme catalysis The cofactor nay be bound to the enzyme or free When bound, the cofactor becomes the prosthetic group of the enzyme enzyme + cofactor is called the ‘Holoenzyme’ enzyme alone is called the ‘Apoenzyme Thiamin (Vitamin B1) Thiamin is also known as vitamin B1 . It is a derivative of substituted pyrimidine and a thiazole, linked by a methylene bridge. Its biologically active form is thiamin pyrophosphate, TPP TPP is formed in the brain and liver by the enzyme, Thiamin diphosphotransferase. Coenzyme Form: Thiamin pyrophosphate 3. TPP serves as a cofactor for the pyruvate and ?-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase reactions as well as the transketolase catalyzed reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway. 4. Deficiency of thiamin leads to neurological conditions like ataxia, mental confusion, peripheral neuropathy and a disease known as Beriberi Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Riboflavin structure Riboflavin is also known as vitamin B2. The coenzymes forms of riboflavin are, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). The enzymes that require FMN or FAD as cofactors are termed flavoproteins. Flavoproteins are involved in a wide range of redox reactions, e.g. succinate dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase. The reduced forms of FMN and FAD are formed, FMNH2