De novo cobalamin biosynthesis, corrinoid salvage and cobalamin-dependent regulation of methionine biosynthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis

The biosynthesis and utilization of cobalamin demands significant genomic resources, however the roles of this co-factor in mycobacterial physiology and pathogenicity remain poorly understood. Notably, the evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the agent of tuberculosis, from an environmental ancestor to an obligate human pathogen is thought to have included alterations in cobalamin-dependent metabolism. Using the non-infectious saprophyte, M. smegmatis, as model environmental mycobacterium, we investigated cobalamin production, the transport and assimilation of exogenous corrinoids for cobalamin salvage, and the potential role of this co-factor in regulating methionine biosynthesis. OHere we provide whole genome sequencing data for some of the M. smegatis mutants that were created to investigate Vitamin B12 metabolism in this orgnaism.