GB817692A - Production of cobalamine analogues - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a composition having LLD activity which comprises an intimate mixture of cobalamines and hydroxybenzimidazole analogues of cobalamines and a process for producing hydroxybenzimidazole analogues of cobalamines having LLD activity which comprises fermenting a nutrient medium containing a 3,4-diaminophenol compound by means of a strain of a microorganism selected from the genus Pseudomonas and capable of producing cobalamines having LLD activity. Suitable strains of fungi are P. aeruginosa, P. fiuorescens, P. mildenbergii, P. mucidolens, P. lumichroma, P. denitrificans, P. chloraraphis, P. rugosa, P. nigrificans and P. salinaria. Typical 3,4-diaminophenol compounds are compounds having the formula <FORM:0817692/IV (b)/1> where R is hydrogen or a polyhydroxyalkyl or acyl group and where each of A and B represents a pair of hydrogen atoms or a group convertible by hydrolysis or reduction to a pair of hydrogen atoms, or where A and B are linked together to form a ring structure. If R is acyl, preferably it is of the form R1.CO- wherein R1 is an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group having 1-8 carbon atoms. Examples of polyhydroxyalkyl groups are methyl D-glucoside, D-fructoside, 1-a -D-riboturenoside - 5 - hydroxybenzimidazole, 1 - a - D - ribopyranosido - 5 - hydroxy - benzimidazole, 1 - L - arabinopyranosido - 5 - hydroxybenzimidazole, 1 - L - xylopyranisido-5 - hydroxybenzimidazole, and 1 - b - D - ribopyraniside - 5 - hydroxybenzimidazole. Among the precursors mentioned are 5-hydroxybenzimidazole, N - acetyl - 5 - hydroxybenzimidazole, 3,4 - diaminophenol 3 - amino - 4 - nitrophenol, N,N1 - diacetyl - 3,4 - diaminophenol, 3 - amino - 4 - nitrosophenol, N - (D - glucosido) - 5 - hydroxybenzimidazole, and their acid salts such as hydrochloride hydrobromide and sulphate. In examples, Pseudomonas denitrificans is employed in fermenting different media. Specifications 681,503, 694,943 and 695,273 are referred to.