B-TWELVE – Microverse remastered – B12 vitamers in action

Cobamides are exclusively produced by a limited number of prokaryotes and are essential cofactors in universal metabolic pathways. The project B-TWELVE will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural diversity among B₁₂ vitamers. Their selective use by bacteria and microalgae is going to be analyzed. Efforts are made to improve the in situ detection of cobamides via Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and to establish a discrimination method for cobamides in natural samples. The project aims to develop a strategy for the use of cobamides as chemical tool to fine-adjust the fitness of individual players in a microbial community.