A Sugar‐Containing Basal Medium for Vitamin B12‐Assay with Euglena; Application to Body Fluids*

Abstract

SUMMARY. An improved assay of vitamin B 12 is described. The z strain of Euglena gracilis, which grows more vigorously than the bacillaris strain previously used, is recommended. The pattern of B 12 specificity of the two strains appears to be the same. A new medium containing sucrose, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and glycine at pH 3.6 is well buffered and allows luxuriant growth. Vigorous utilization of sugar appears to depend on readily available nitrogen and a Krebs‐cycle component; these requirements are well met by aspartic acid (or asparagine) and glutamic acid. The proposed procedure is especially suitable for the measurement of B 12 in blood serum because rise in pH and precipitation of serum proteins during incubation are minimized. Like bacillaris, the z strain allows the distinction between “combined” and “uncombined” B 12 in serum. Serum may be an appropriate test material to tell whether such phagotrophs as Peranema can better utilize bound forms of vitamins than can the related osmotrophs. Patterns of B 12 requirements and occurrence are discussed as phylogenetic markers.