methylcobalamin

Methylcobalamin (mecobalamin, MeCbl, or MeB12) is a cobalamin, a form of vitamin B12. It differs from cyanocobalamin in that the cyanide is replaced by a methyl group.

Methylcobalamin features an octahedral cobalt(III) centre. Methylcobalamin can be obtained as bright red crystals.

From the perspective of coordination chemistry, methylcobalamin is notable as a rare example of a compound that contains metal-alkyl bonds. Nickel-methyl intermediates have been proposed for the final step of methanogenesis.

Methylcobalamin is equivalent physiologically to vitamin B12, and can be used to prevent or treat pathology arising from a lack of vitamin B12 (vitamin B12 deficiency), such as pernicious anemia.

Methylcobalamin is also used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and as a preliminary treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Optic nerve crush injury in rats causes the loss of the axons and RGCs but this may be ameliorated by treatment with Mecobalamin 1).


1)
Kong X, Sun X, Zhang J. The protective role of Mecobalamin following optic nerve crush in adult rats. Yan Ke Xue Bao. 2004 Sep;20(3):171-7. PubMed PMID: 15499726.
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