Intracellular trafficking and compartmentalization of vitamins and their physiologically active forms.

Abstract

This chapter discusses the metabolism of classically considered vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D (calciferols), vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 (cobalamins), vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)) to physiologically active forms, i.e. coenzymes or hormones, and describes their subsequent compartmentalizations. Events covered are those that occur upon uptake through the plasma membrane of a eukaryotic cell, the subsequent partitioning into cytosol and organelles (mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lysozomes, nucleus, etc.), and those metabolic alterations that are involved.