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Nature 446, 387-388 (22 March 2007) | doi:10.1038/446387a; Published online 21 March 2007

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Biochemistry: Molecular cannibalism

Steven E. Ealick1 & Tadhg P. Begley1

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The biosynthesis of vitamin B12 has fascinated generations of scientists, but part of the pathway was unknown. The missing enzymatic link has now been found, only to raise more mechanistic questions.

Most people who take vitamin supplements are unaware of the scientific history behind their unassuming tablets. Vitamin B12 is an excellent case in point — no less than four Nobel prizes have been awarded for work relating to this seemingly commonplace compound (Box 1).

  1. Steven E. Ealick and Tadhg P. Begley are in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, USA.
    Email: see3@cornell.edu
    Email: tpb2@cornell.edu

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RESEARCH

BluB cannibalizes flavin to form the lower ligand of vitamin B 12

Nature Letters to Editor (22 Mar 2007)