Occurrence of coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 in a cultured purple laver (Porphyla yezoensis)

Porphyra yezoensis (Susabinori, an edible purple laver), which was cultured aseptically for 12 weeks and then lyophilized, contained 50+/-2 microg/g of vitamin B(12) per 100 g dry weight. Coenzyme forms of vitamin B(12) (about 60% of the total vitamin B(12)) were found in the cultured purple laver aseptically, which may have the ability to biosynthesize the coenzymes.