Abstract
Intact cells of a biotin-producing bacterium, KY-21-1-25, were found to synthesize biotin from dethiobiotin. Optimal conditions for the biosynthesis of biotin from dethio-biotin by intact cells were investigated. Intact cells harvested from adenine-supplemented medium showed intensive biosynthesis. However, the biosynthesis of biotin by intact cells was strongly inhibited by the addition of adenine or adenosine. The inhibitory activity of adenine was about 10-fold greater than that of adenosine. Formation of several unidentified biotin-vitamers was observed in both reaction mixtures incubated with and/or without addition of adenine.
