Abstract
Biosynthesis of biotin from DL-desthiobiotin by washed cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. It was found to be the best condition for biosynthesis of biotin that the cells, which were cultured in a liquid medium containing a suboptimal amount (20 mμg per 100ml) of DL-desthiobiotin during one to three days, were incubated in the reaction mixture containing DL-desthiobiotin (2×10^<-7>M) and glucose at 37℃ without shaking. The addition of several sulfur compounds did not increase the production of biotin. Therefore, sulfur source on biosynthesis of biotin by washed cells was supplied with the sulfur compounds present in the cell. The synthesized biotin was practically restricted intracellulary under this condition and 87 per cent of the biotin was present in a esterified form.
