Novel compositions of cobalamin and related corrinoids, and uses thereof

Abstract

Novel compositions cobalamin and related corrinoids, and uses thereof, are disclosed. The novel compositions include a corrin, a first amino acid having a side chain which includes a basic or positively charged moiety; and a second amino acid with an uncharged side chain which includes at least one heteroatom. The compositions are useful for, inter alia, treatment of cobalamin deficiency.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising a mixture of: 
 (a) a corrin selected from the group consisting of cobalamins and corrinoids;    (b) a first amino acid having a side chain which includes a basic or positively charged moiety; and    (c) . a second amino acid with an uncharged side chain which includes at least one heteroatom, 
 wherein said composition comprises an excess by weight of the corrin relative to at least one of the first amino acid and the second amino acid.  
   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the corrin is a cobalamin.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the first amino acid is selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, histidine, and ornithine.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the second amino acid is selected from the group consisting of glutamine, asparagine, tyrosine, tryptophan, histidine, methionine, cysteine, hydroxyproline, serine and threonine.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the corrin is present in a ratio by weight of at least 2:1 relative to the first amino acid.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising a mixture of: 
 (a) a cobalamin;    (b) a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine or ornithine; and    (c) a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of glutamine, tyrosine, serine, threonine, tryptophan or asparagine, 
 wherein said composition comprises an excess by weight of the cobalamin relative to at least one of the first or second amino acid.  
   
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the first amino acid is lysine and the second amino acid is glutamine.  
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising a mixture in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of: 
 (a) cobalamin;    (b) lysine, arginine, histidine or ornithine; and    (c) glutamine, tyrosine, serine, threonine, tryptophan or asparagine, in a molar ratio of from about 1:0.1:0.1 to about 1:100:100.    
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9  comprising cobalamin, lysine and glutamine in a molar ratio of about 1:2:4.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9  comprising cobalamin, lysine, glutamine and tyrosine in a molar ratio of about 1:2:2:2.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises a microorganism capable of catalyzing the formation of a cobalamin:amino acid complex.  
     
     
         13 . A method of increasing cellular uptake of cobalamin in the cells of a subject, comprising administering to the subject an active amount of a composition comprising a mixture of: 
 (a) cobalamin;    (b) lysine, arginine, histidine or ornithine; and    (c) glutamine, tyrosine, serine, threonine, tryptophan or asparagine, in a molar ratio of from about 1:0.1:0.1 to about 1:100:100, such that cellular uptake of cobalamin in the cells of the subject is increased.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         15 . A method for treating a condition associated with cobalamin deficiency in a subject, the method comprising: 
 administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition of  claim 9 ,    such that a condition associated with cobalamin deficiency in the subject is treated.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the subject is a human.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the condition is Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the condition is a condition associated with retroviral infection.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the condition is HIV infection.