Avidine

Fig. XV-5. Fluorescence micrographs illustrating morphologies of two-dimensional (2D) sireptavidin crystals at three streptavidin/avidin ratios 15/85, 25/75, 40/60 from left to ri t. Scale bar is 100 gm (From Ref. 31.)...

A typical force curve showing the specific avidin-biotin interaction is depicted in figure Bl.20.10. The SFA revealed the strong influence of hydration forces and membrane undulation forces on the specific binding of proteins to membrane-bound receptors [81]. 

The avidin-biotin complex, known for its extremely high affinity (Green, 1975), has been studied experimentally more extensively than most other protein-ligand systems. The adhesion forces between avidin and biotin have been measured directly by AFM experiments (Florin et al., 1994 Moy et al., 1994b Moy et al., 1994a). SMD simulations were performed on the entire tetramer of avidin with four biotins bound to investigate the microscopic detail of nnbinding of biotin from avidin (Izrailev et al., 1997). 

The simulations also revealed that flapping motions of one of the loops of the avidin monomer play a crucial role in the mechanism of the unbinding of biotin. The fluctuation time for this loop as well as the relaxation time for many of the processes in proteins can be on the order of microseconds and longer (Eaton et al., 1997). The loop has enough time to fluctuate into an open state on experimental time scales (1 ms), but the fluctuation time is too long for this event to take place on the nanosecond time scale of simulations. To facilitate the exit of biotin from its binding pocket, the conformation of this loop was altered (Izrailev et al., 1997) using the interactive molecular dynamics features of MDScope (Nelson et al., 1995 Nelson et al., 1996 Humphrey et al., 1996). 

The simulations of the avidin-biotin complex (Izrailev et ah, 1997) showed that a major difficulty involved in studies of the binding and flexibility of... 

Izrailev et al., 1997] Izrailev, S., Stepaniants, S., Balsera, M., Oono, Y., and Schulten, K. Molecular dynamics study of unbinding of the avidin-biotin complex. Biophys. J. 72 (1997) 1568-1581... 

Thus, we have found unexpected complexities and even in this simple system have not yet been unable to accurately extrapolate the results of simulations done over periods varying from 1 to several hundred ps, to the low-friction conditions of extraction experiments performed in times on the oi dc r of ms. The present results indicate that one should not expect agreement between extraction experiments and simulations in more complex situations typically found in experiments, involving also a reverse flow of water molecules to fill the site being evacuated by the ligand, unless the simulation times are prolonged well beyond the scope of current computational resources, and thereby strengthen the conclusion reached in the second theoretical study of extraction of biotin from it.s complex with avidin [19]. 

Proteias, amino acids bonded through peptide linkages to form macromolecular biopolymers, used as chiral stationary phases for hplc iaclude bovine and human semm albumin, a -acid glycoproteia, ovomucoid, avidin, and ceUobiohydrolase. The bovine semm albumin column is marketed under the name Resolvosil and can be obtained from Phenomenex. The human semm albumin column can be obtained from Alltech Associates, Advanced Separation Technologies, Inc., and J. T. Baker. The a -acid glycoproteia and ceUobiohydrolase can be obtained from Advanced Separation Technologies, Inc. or J. T. Baker, Inc. 

Isotope Dilution Assay. An isotope dilution assay for biotin, based on the high affinity of avidin for the ureido group of biotin, compares the binding of radioactive biotin and nonradio active biotin with avidin. This method is sensitive to a level of 1—10 ng biotin (82—84), and the radiotracers typically used are p C]biotin (83), [3H]biotin (84,85) or an I-labeled biotin derivative (86). A variation of this approach uses I-labeled avidin (87) for the assay. 

Avidin (from egg white) [1405-69-2] Mr -70,000. Purified by chromatography of an ammonium acetate soln on CM-cellulose [Green Biochem J 101 774 1966]. Also purified by affinity chromatography on 2-iminobiotin-6-aminohexyl-Sepharose 4B [Orr 7 Bio/C/iew 256 761 1981]. It is a biotin binding protein. 

Avidin-biotinic system as the aid of address delivery of antitumor compounds 98MI54. 

Alimentary biotin deficiency is rare. It may, however, occur in patients on long-term parenteral nutrition lacking biotin or in persons who frequently consume raw egg white. Raw egg white contains a biotin-binding glycoprotein, called avidin, which renders biotin biologically unavailable. Pharmacological doses of the vitamin (1-10 mg/d) are then used to treat deficiency symptoms. There are no reports of toxicity for daily oral doses up to 200 mg and daily intravenous doses of up to 20 mg [2]. 

These examples are part of a broader design scheme to combine catalytic metal complexes with a protein as chiral scaffold to obtain a hybrid catalyst combining the catalytic potential of the metal complex with the enantioselectivity and evolvability of the protein host [11]. One of the first examples of such systems combined a biotinylated rhodium complex with avidin to obtain an enantioselective hydrogenation catalyst [28]. Most significantly, it has been shovm that mutation-based improvements of enantioselectivity are possible in these hybrid catalysts as for enzymes (Figure 3.7) [29]. 

Metagenomics has been applied to the search for novel genes encoding the synthesis of vitamins such as biotin and vitamin C [47,76]. Seven cosmids were detected in metagenomic libraries obtained after avidin enrichment of environmental samples. The highest levels of biotin production in this study were detected in a cosmid... 

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