title: The significance of breast milk biotinidase.
abstract: Biotinidase (EC 3.5.1.12) activity in human breast milk was first demonstrated by us, using a newly developed method. The enzyme activity was relatively low compared with that in human serum. However, its activity increased significantly with thiol-reactive agents. Taurine and glutathione also enhanced the enzyme activity considerably. From these results, we speculate that biotinidase in milk would be protected from various inactivation-mechanisms in the same manner as milk lipase. Biotinidase might play an important role in the intestinal absorption of the indispensable vitamin, biotin, during infancy, when enzymes in the pancreatic juice are still immature.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oizumi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daimatsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaima
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D043523:Biotinidase; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000201:enzymology*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine; D000581:Amidohydrolases; D043523:Biotinidase; D005978:Glutathione