Non-Specificity of Biotin Activity for Leuconostoc ∗

Abstract

Summary

It has been found that L. dextranicum elai is unique in that the dl-forms of oxybiotin and desthiobiotin are equal in activity to d-biotin in allowing maximum growth in an aspartate-free fructose medium. Since no increased lag period was observed the results suggest that these biotin analogs are utilized directly and without prior conversion to the vitamin. It was also found that γ-(3,4-ureylenecyclohexyl) butyric acid was not a blocking agent for this organism, but instead possessed biotin activity.