| Description | Biocytin is a conjugate of biotin and lysine known formally as ε-N-(d-biotinyl)-L-lysine. The addition of lysine to biotin increases the chain length extending from biotin, allowing the synthesis of medium-chain reagents. It also provides terminal carboxyl and amino groups for derivatization or conjugation to proteins and other molecules. Covalent linking reactions typically involve carbodiimide or NHS-ester crosslinking chemistries. Biocytin is also used as an anterograde, retrograde, or intracellular neuroanatomical tracer that is fixable with aldehyde-based fixatives. For this and other applications, biocytin is detected with avidin or streptavidin probes. |
| Chemical Properties | White Solid |
| Uses | Useful for the synthesis of Biocytin containing peptides to study the mechanism of reactions catalyzed by biotin - containing enzymes |
| Uses | Biocytin can be used as a versatile fluorescent marker for neuroanatomical investigations and for a biotinidase assay. |
| Uses | Biocytin is used as a substrate to study the specificity and kinetics of biotinidase(s), to measure biotinidase deficiency and as a model compound to study various uptake mechanisms of cells and tissues. Biocytin has been used to label neurons, medium spiny neurons and optic nerves. |
| Definition | ChEBI: A monocarboxylic acid amide that results from the formal condensation of the carboxylic acid group of biotin with the N6-amino group of L-lysine. |
| Biological Activity | Versatile marker used in anterograde, retrograde and intracellular neuroanatomical investigations and in biotinidase assays. Displays high solubility in aqueous solutions and has a low molecular weight facilitating injection using micropipettes. Can be incorporated with a variety of avidin and streptavidin conjugates for detection by light, fluorescence or electron microscope. |
| Biochem/physiol Actions | Biocytin is an adduct of lysine and biotin. It is hydrolyzed by biotinidase, which acts on peptide-incorporated biotin or free biotin. Biocytin acts as a coenzyme. |
| storage | -20°C |
| Purification Methods | Recrystallise biocytin rapidly from dilute MeOH or Me2CO. It can also be recrystallised from H2O by slow evaporation or by dissolving in the minimum volume of H2O and adding Me2CO until solid separates. It is freely soluble in H2O and AcOH but insoluble in Me2CO. [Wolf et al. J Am Chem Soc 74 2002 1952, 72 1048 1950.] It has been purified by chromatography on superfiltrol-Celite, Al2O3 and by countercurrent distribution and then recrystallised [IR: Peck et al. J Am Chem Soc 74 1991 1952]. The hydrochloride recrystallises from aqueous Me2CO/HCl and has m 227o (dec). [Beilstein 27 III/IV 7984.] |
