title: In vivo resolution of conflicting in vitro results: synthesis of biotin from dethiobiotin does not require pyridoxal phosphate.
abstract: The source of the biotin sulfur atom remains a contested point in studies of biotin synthase (BioB) in vitro. Recent reports that BioB has an intrinsic pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent cysteine desulfurase activity were tested by depleting Escherichia coli cells of PLP. The BioB-dependent conversion of dethiobiotin to biotin proceeded in these cells irrespective of the presence or absence of PLP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hamid
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cronan
mesh_terms: D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D001710:Biotin; C004749:desthiobiotin