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. 1972 May;69(5):1173–1175. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.5.1173

On the Mechanism of Action of Vitamin B12. Model Studies. Thermal Rearrangement of Methyl 3,3-Dimethylglycidate to Methyl Levulinate

Paul Dowd 1, Christopher S Nakagawa 1
PMCID: PMC426656  PMID: 4504332

Abstract

The discovery that methyl 3,3-dimethylglycidate rearranges to methyl levulinate on heating is discussed in terms of its possible consequences for the mechanism of action of the coenzyme B12-dependent enzymes: methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (EC 5.4.99.2), glutamate mutase (EC 5.4.99.1), and a-methyleneglutarate mutase. It is also suggested that the proposed mechanism may provide a unifying link between the mechanism of action of the above enzymes and that of the coenzyme B12-dependent dioldehydrase and related enzymes.

Keywords: coenzyme B12, mutase reactions

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Selected References

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