Cobalamin derivatives in subcellular fractions of porcine ileal enterocytes

The distribution of cobalamin derivatives in porcine enterocytes was studied using thin-layer chromatography and bioautography. Compared with the original homogenate, adenosyl-cobalamin (Ado-Cbl) was concentrated 5-10 times in the mitochondrial fraction. Cyanocobalamin was found in the lysosomal fraction, but was not detected in the mitochondria. Methyl-cobalamin (Me-Cbl) was found only in the sap fraction and could not be detected in the total homogenate. Hydroxocobalamin was the main form of Cbl in the lysosomal fraction. These results provide indirect evidence that in enterocytes methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, the coenzyme of which is Ado-Cbl, is located in the mitochondrial fraction and that methionine synthetase, the coenzyme of which is Me-Cbl, is located in the sap fraction. These enzymes thus appear to be distributed in the same way as in liver cells.