A potential biotechnological process for the sustainable production of vitamin K1.

The primary objective of this review is to propose an approach for the biosynthesis of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) based upon its known sources, its role in photosynthesis and its biosynthetic pathway. The chemistry, health benefits, market, and industrial production of vitamin K are also summarized. Vitamin K compounds (K vitamers) are required for the normal function of at least 15 proteins involved in diverse physiological processes such as coagulation, tissue mineralization, inflammation, and neuroprotection. Vitamin K is essential for the prevention of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), especially in neonates. Increased vitamin K intake may also reduce the severity and/or risk of bone fracture, arterial calcification, inflammatory diseases, and cognitive decline. Consumers are increasingly favoring natural food and therapeutic products. However, the bulk of vitamin K products employed for both human and animal use are chemically synthesized. Biosynthesis of the menaquinones (vitamin K2) has been extensively researched. However, published research on the biotechnological production of phylloquinone is restricted to a handful of available articles and patents. We have found that microalgae are more suitable than plant cell cultures for the biosynthesis of phylloquinone. Many algae are richer in vitamin K1 than terrestrial plants, and algal cells are easier to manipulate. Vitamin K1 can be efficiently recovered from the biomass using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.

Anti-Inflammatory Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Indomethacin. Synthesis, Magnetism and EPR Spectroscopy. Crystal Structure of the N,N-Dimethylformamide Adduct.

Veterinary anti-inflammatory Cu(II) complexes of indomethacin (1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole-3-acetic acid = IndoH), of the general formula [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)L(2)] (L = N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), and water), were studied by zero-field and X-band EPR spectroscopies, electronic spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and X-ray powder diffraction. The complexes are similar to Cu(II) acetate monohydrate, with a strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, J, ranging from -141 to -152 cm(-)(1). Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data for all of the complexes are similar, with the exception of a [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(H(2)O)(2)] complex, which displays an unusual increase in magnetic moment with decreasing temperature from 50 to 10 K. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the DMF and DMA dimers show that they are isostructural. Two isostructural H(2)O complexes were synthesized from different methods yet displayed different variable temperature magnetic susceptibity data. All of the [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)L(2)] complexes crystallize in the triclinic space group P&onemacr;. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the DMF complex, [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(DMF)(2)].1.6(DMF), shows that it is similar to the previously reported [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(DMSO)(2)] with a Cu-Cu bond length of 2.630(1) Å, Cu-O(RCOO) of 1.960(4)-1.967(4) Å, and Cu-O(DMF) of 2.143(5) Å and crystal parameters a = 10.848(3) Å, b = 13.336(6) Å, c = 16.457(4) Å, alpha = 104.67(3) degrees, beta = 100.94(2) degrees, and gamma = 107.16(3) degrees. The X-ray structure of the DMF dimer does not exhibit strong intermolecular interactions due to the hydrophobic nature of the exterior. This may be important in facilitating its dissolution in micelles and transport through membranes.