Biochemistry – What is Biotin? What are its important functions?

Functions of Biotin in the Vitamin B Complex group and its uses.

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Biotin

  • Biotin is a very important member of the B-Complex group of vitamins.
  • Biotin was isolated in 1942 by Vincent du Vigneaud, who was awarded Nobel prize in 1955.

Sources of Biotin

  1. Normal bacterial flora of the gut provide adequate quantities of biotin.
  2. It is also distributed ubiquitously in plant and animal tissues.
  3. Liver,
  4. Yeast,
  5. Peanut,
  6. Soybean,
  7. Milk,
  8. Egg yolk are rich sources.

Structure of Biotin

  • It consists of an imidazole ring fused with a thiophene ring with a valeric acid side chain.
  • The carboxyl group forms an amide linkage with the epsilon nitrogen of a lysine residue in the apo-enzyme.

Coenzyme activity of Biotin

  • As with other members of the group, Biotin acts as a coenzyme for the carboxylation reactions.
  • It captures a molecule of CO2, which is then attached to the nitrogen of the biotin molecule.
  • This reaction needs energy which is provided by ATP.
  • The activated carboxyl group is then transferred to the substrate.

Reactions that need Biotin as a coenzyme

1. Acetyl CoA carboxylase

  • This enzyme adds CO2 to acetyl CoA to form malonyl CoA.
  • This is the rate limiting reaction in biosynthesis of fatty acids.
    • Acetyl CoA +CO2+ATP→ Malonyl CoA + ADP+Pi

2. Propionyl CoA carboxylase

  • Propionyl CoA +CO2+ATP → Methyl malonyl CoA +ADP+Pi

3. Pyruvate carboxylase

  • Pyruvate + CO2 + ATP → Oxaloacetate + ADP + Pi
  1. It provides the oxaloacetate, …

FOR COMPLETE LESSON OF BIOTIN, PLEASE CLICK THE VIATMINS TAB IN “BIOCHEMISTRY I”. THEN CLICK CURRICULUM TO VIEW THE LIST.

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