Methylcobalamin - A form of vitamin B12 identified and characterised in Chlorella vulgaris

Vitamin B-12 is among the most essential biomolecules required for crucial metabolic processes in humans. Vitamin B-12 was extracted from Chlorella vulgaris biomass under aqueous conditions, partially purified by passing the extract through amberlite XAD-2, Sep-Pak columns, and further purified by HPLC. The target peak eluent was subjected to characterisation by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), selected ion recording (SIR) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and identified as methylcobalamin (Me-Cbl). Quantification of Me-Cbl was carried out by microbiological and chemiluminescence methods, and found to be 29.87 +/- 2 mu g/100 g and 26.84 +/- 2 mu g/100 g dry weight, respectively. The presence of Me-Cbl was further substantiated using gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) based aptamer analysis, and found to be 28.02 +/- 2 mu g/100 g dry weight. Good similarity was observed among all the methods. Methylcobalamin, a form of vitamin B-12 was identified in C vulgaris and this finding enhances its use as a nutritional supplement. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.