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Cloning of Putative Cobalamin Reductases of Thermosipho melanesiensis

Abstract

Cobalamin, commonly known as Vitamin B12, is a vitamin that plays an essential role in keeping human nerve and blood cells healthy. It is also a cofactor for the synthesis of enzymes involved in citric acid cycle metabolism, DNA synthesis, and gene regulation. Only certain Bacteria and Archaea possess the required enzymes for Cobalamin biosynthesis. Eukaryotes cannot synthesize Cobalamin de novo, but obtain it in one of two ways: via gut microorganisms that synthesize Cobalamin, or via food sources. Humans use the latter method by consuming animal products. Our aim is to uncover the unknown gene identities of three reductase enzymes in Thermosipho melanesiensis that are suspected to be required for de novo Cobalamin synthesis. Previous research on protein comparison to Salmonella enterica has targeted three DNA sequences as possible reductase genes

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