Biotin and the Synthesis of Aspartic Acid by Microorganisms

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Abstract
Biotin can completely substitute for aspartic acid in the growth of Lactobacillus arabinosus, Streptococcus faecalis and related organisms. The biotin -aspartic acid relationship is specific; riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamine, P-aminobenzoic acid, and pyridoxamine cannot replace biotin, nor can biotin substitute for 14 amino acids other than aspartic acid which are required for growth. Cells grown with biotin contain as much aspartic acid as those grown with aspartic acid. It is concluded that biotin participates in the synthesis of aspartic acid. Although resting cell suspensions of L. arabinosus can form aspartic acid by typical transamination reactions, the presence of biotin is not required for such reactions. It has not been possible to determine the specific aspartic acid-forming reaction catalyzed by biotin.
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