Vitamin K1 (syn: Phytonadione) is a natural organic substance and prenylated naphthoquinone. It can be used in cell culture and is commonly added to culture media. The compound is a polycyclic aromatic ketone used as a cofactor in the formation of coagulation factors and in cell signaling, and bone metabolism. Vitamin K1 is found in higher plants and some blue-green algae and cyanobacteria and is involved in photosynthesis. VItamin K encompasses a group of fat-soluble 2-methyl-1,4 naphthoquinone derivatives that includes Vitamin K1, Vitamin K2 ( menaquinone) and Vitamin K3 (menadione). Vitamin K was discovered in 1929 and dubbed the 'coagulation vitamin' due to its role in blood coagulation. Henrik Dam of Biochemical Inst.(University of Copenhagen) who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1943) for the discovery of Vitamin K). It was later purified from alfalfa at the St. Louis University School of Medicine by Edward Doisy's group and he was co-awarded the Nobel Prize for elucidating its structure. Research has shown that Vitamin K has a range of activities that extend beyond coagulation.
Vitamin K1 is sparingly soluble in alcohol.
| Mechanism of Action |
Vitamin K1 is a cofactor used in forming coagulation factors (II ie prothrombin, VII, IX, and X). Specifically, it is a cofactor for gamma-carboxylase enzymes that catalyze the gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues in inactive hepatic precursors of coagulation factors. These coagulation factors are secreted by hepatocytes into the blood. It is a antifibrinolytic agent thus it prevents fibrinolysis or lysis of a blood clot or thrombus. Vitamin K1 is also used as a cell signaling factor. |
| Plant Biology Applications |
Vitamin K1 synthesis is studied and found that plant involved in making this compound have a high degree of evolutionary chimerism. The biosynthesis of Vitamin K is also connected via shared intermediates to the metabolism of salicylate, tocopherols and chlorophylls (van Oostende C et al, 2011). |
| Eukaryotic Cell Culture Applications |
In vitro studies with human Caco-2 intestinal cells and mucus layer co-cultured with stable communities of aerobic and anaerobic gut microbiota were studied to investigate host-microbiome interactions using a microfluidic intestine-on-a-chip ("Intestine Chip"). By sustaining a transluminal hypoxia gradient, it was possible to sustain microbial diversity and over 200 taxonomic units from 11 different genera were maintained. This experimental model can be used to understand human disease and advance personalized medicine. Vitamin K1 was added to the culture media in this study (Jalili-Firoozinezhad S et al, 2019). |
| Plant Biology Applications |
Vitamin K1 synthesis is studied and found that plant involved in making this compound have a high degree of evolutionary chimerism. The biosynthesis of Vitamin K is also connected via shared intermediates to the metabolism of salicylate, tocopherols and chlorophylls (van Oostende C et al, 2011). |
| Molecular Formula | C31H46O2 |
| References |
Jalili-Firoozinezhad S et al (2019) A complex human gut microbiome cultured in an anaerobic intestine-on-a-chip. Nat Biomed Eng. 3(7):520-531 PMID 31086325 Kieronska-Rudek A et al (2021) Exogenous vitamins K exert anti-inflammatory effects dissociated from their role as substrates for synthesis of endogenous MK-4 in murine macrophages cell line. Cells 10(7):1571 Xu Y et al (2020) Extraction and determination of Vitamin K1 in foods by ultrasound-assisted extraction, SPE, and LC-MS/MS. Molecules. 25(4):839 PMID 32075057 van Oostende C et al (2011). Chapter 6-Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone): Function, Enzymes and Genes. In: Advances in Botanical Research. Rébeillé F and Douce R eds. Academic Press 59:229-261 |
