Vitamin B6: A Long Known Compound of Surprising Complexity

Abstract

In recent years vitamin B6 has become a focus of research describing the compound’s critical function in cellular metabolism and stress response. For many years the sole function of vitamin B6 was considered to be that of an enzymatic cofactor. However, recently it became clear that it is also a potent antioxidant that effectively quenches reactive oxygen species and is thus of high importance for cellular well-being. In view of the recent findings, the current review takes a look back and summarizes the discovery of vitamin B6 and the elucidation of its structure and biosynthetic pathways. It provides a detailed overview on vitamin B6 both as a cofactor and a protective compound. Besides these general characteristics of the vitamin, the review also outlines the current literature on vitamin B6 derivatives and elaborates on recent findings that provide new insights into transport and catabolism of the compound and on its impact on human health.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of the lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum elucidates its drought adaptation mechanisms

“…Our results show that E. pusillum has multiple mechanisms to deal with oxidative stress. Vitamin B6 has three forms (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine) and is an enzymatic cofactor participating in many biochemical reactions [53]. Recent research showed that vitamin B6 played a critical role in resistance to oxidative stress.…”

Different patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial penetration by the G3 PAMAM dendrimer and its biotin–pyridoxal bioconjugate BC-PAMAM in normal and cancer cells in vitro

“…[37][38][39] Pyridoxal (PL) and its 5′ phosphorylated derivative are active forms of vitamin B6 that play a critical role in cellular metabolism and stress response. 40,41 Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the protective role of vitamin B6 in carcinogenesis, especially colon carcinogenesis, by reducing cell proliferation, oxidative stress, NO production, and angiogenesis. 42,43 Our previous study revealed that after internalization, biotin-PLconjugated PAMAM G3 dendrimers had lower cytotoxicity than the nonconjugated forms of the dendrimer in both normal human fibroblasts (BJ) and squamous epithelial carcinoma (SCC-15) cancer cells.…”

Involvement of Vitamin B 6 Biosynthesis Pathways in the Insecticidal Activity of Photorhabdus luminescens

“…Vitamin B 6 (or B 6 vitamer) is one of the essential vitamin compounds involved in many aspects of metabolism in all living organisms (21,22). Vitamin B 6 is the generic name encompassing six biologically interconvertible compounds: pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxamine (PM), and the phosphorylated forms pyridoxal 5=-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxine 5=-phosphate (PNP), and pyridoxamine 5=-phosphate (PMP) (http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iupac/misc/B6 .html).…”