Transport of the biotin dietary derivative biocytin (N-biotinyl-l-lysine) in rat small intestine

Hamid M. Said, Le Phuc Thuy, Larry Sweetman, Benjamin Schatzman

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20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Biocytin is an important end product of intraluminal digestion of dietary protein-bound biotin. Limited studies are available regarding the ability of the small intestine to transport biocytin and about the mechanism involved. The aim of the present study was to delineate these issues. Methods: Transport of [3H]-biocytin was examined using everted sacs from rat intestine. Results: Mucosal-to-serosal transport of low (0.022 μmol/L) and high (5 μmol/L) concentrations of biocytin were linear for up to 20 minutes of incubation. Transport of biocytin as a function of concentration (0.022-5 μmol/L) was linear (r = 0.99) and occurred at a rate of 22,062 fmol · g tissue (wet wt)-1 · 15 min-1. Addition of high concentrations of unlabeled biocytin, biotin, biotin methyl ester, and lysine did not cause a significant inhibition of the transport of [3H]-biocytin. Furthermore, transport of biocytin was independent of Na+ concentration, pH, energy, and temperature. Compared with transport of equimolar concentrations of free biotin, transport of biocytin (0.022 μmol/L) was significantly lower in both the jejunum and the ileum. Conclusions: (1) Biocytin transport in rat intestine is lower than that of free biotin and occurs via simple physical diffusion. (2) In the rat, efficient absorption and optimal bioavailability of dietary protein-bound biotin necessitates its conversion to free biotin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)75-80
Number of pages6
JournalGastroenterology
Volume104
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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