Vitamin K1

Vitamin K1 (CAS No.: 84-80-0) is a naturally occurring, fat-soluble vitamin, also known as phylloquinone or phytonadione, that plays a central role in hemostasis and metabolic regulation, making it a critical molecule in biomedical research and drug discovery. Predominantly derived from green, photosynthetic plant tissues where it functions in electron transport within Photosystem I, Vitamin K1 serves in mammalian systems as an essential cofactor for γ-glutamyl carboxylase, an enzyme responsible for the post-translational modification of glutamate residues in vitamin K–dependent proteins, including coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X, as well as proteins involved in bone and vascular biology. Through this mechanism, it regulates calcium binding and activation of these proteins, linking it to pathways governing blood coagulation, bone mineralization, and vascular homeostasis. In addition to its established physiological roles, Vitamin K1 is a biochemical precursor to menaquinones and has been investigated for potential antiproliferative effects in various cellular models, with reported activity generally observed in the low micromolar to micromolar range depending on the system. It is widely utilized in in vitro and in vivo studies to examine vitamin K–dependent enzymatic processes, coagulation disorders, and metabolic signaling, as well as in screening platforms exploring modulators of γ-carboxylation pathways and related therapeutic targets, with experimental concentrations or dosing regimens varying according to specific study designs and biological contexts.