General Product Information: NHS-Biotin is prepared by activation of the carboxyl group of d-Biotin followed by incorporation of N-hydroxysuccinimide. The activated ester reacts with amino groups of proteins. Amino-Hexanoyl-Biotin-N-hydroxysuccinimide Ester is similar in function to the NHS-Biotin with the addition of an aminocaproyl spacer arm, which is useful in assays where steric hindrance may be an issue. Both materials are supplied as a crystalline powder and contain only traces of free d-Biotin or ε-biotinyl-aminocaproic acid, which will not interfere with subsequent conjugation procedures. Please refer to our recommended procedure for suggested use of these products.
Catalog No. B0311 (Part No. 90427) - NHS-Biotin
Activity: > 98% using a spectrophotometric avidin binding assay.
Molecular Weight: 341.4
Catalog No. B0411 (Part No. 90428) - AH-Biotin-NHS
Activity: > 95% using a spectrophotometric avidin binding assay.
Molecular Weight: 454.5
Biotin is an essential micronutrient that belongs to the B-complex vitamin family (it is also referred to as vitamin H). Biotin serves as a cofactor for several metabolically important carboxylases. Symptoms of biotin deficiency include various neurological symptoms, facial rash, and alopecia. There is evidence that biotin deficiency can decrease glucokinase activity in the pancreas, which affects insulin secretion in response to glucose. Studies show that biotin levels are lower in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus than in non-diabetic subjects.
Biotin deficiency has been observed in animals fed raw egg whites, which led to the discovery that the major protein component of egg whites, avidin, has an affinity for biotin. The binding of biotin and avidin is one of the strongest non-covalent interactions found in nature (Kd of approximately 10-15 Mol/L).
Scripps Laboratories also supplies Streptavidin and Egg White Avidin.