= Pyridoxamine
<Pyridoxamine> is an <amine> form of <Vitamin B6>. Its substituted <pyridine> ring carries a methyl group at position 2, a <hydroxyl group> at position 3, an aminomethyl group at position 4 and a hydroxymethyl group at position 5. Its <molecular formula> is $\mathrm{C_8H_{12}N_2O_2}$.<Pyridoxamine in ChEBI>[CHEBI:16410, Definition and Formula]{ref}
The position-4 group makes the B6 family a useful example of how a small structural change distinguishes related molecules. <Pyridoxine> has $\mathrm{-CH_2OH}$ there, <pyridoxal> has $\mathrm{-CHO}$, and <pyridoxamine> has $\mathrm{-CH_2NH_2}$. These are respectively <alcohol>, <aldehyde> and <amine> forms, rather than three interchangeable names for one structure.<Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals by the Office of Dietary Supplements>[Introduction, six B6 vitamers]{ref}
Adding a phosphate at the position-5 hydroxymethyl group produces <pyridoxamine phosphate>, an active <coenzyme> form. <Pyridoxal phosphate> is the other principal active B6 coenzyme form. The free vitamin and its phosphorylated derivative must therefore be distinguished when describing an <enzyme assay>: the name of the vitamin family alone does not identify the molecular species supplied to the enzyme.<Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals by the Office of Dietary Supplements>[Introduction, PLP and PMP]{ref}
Back to article page
