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Studies of the Reversible Binding of Biotin to Human Plasma¹

Divisions of Nutrition and Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242

In this study we sought to determine the extent of the reversible binding of [³H]biotin to macromolecules (presumably proteins) of human plasma under physiologic conditions during physiologic time intervals ranging from minutes to days. Fresh, heparinized human plasma and [³H]biotin were incubated in 5% CO₂, 95% N₂ at 37°C. After reaching equilibrium, free biotin was separated from bound biotin by centrifugal ultrafiltration (1500 x g for 60 min) using membranes with a molecular weight cutoff of 30,000. In a sample from a single individual, we detected a mean retentate:ultrafiltrate ratio of 1.20 ± 0.03 (mean ± SD, n = 14 determinations). In a group of 10 healthy adults, the mean retentate:ultrafiltrate ratio was 1.17 ± 0.02; thus, approximately 8% of the biotin in the combined pool of free and reversibly bound biotin is bound. No consistent change in retentate:ultrafiltrate ratio was detected for total biotin concentrations ranging between 500 fmol/mL and 2 nmol/mL, but the ratio decreased to 1.1 at 400 nmol of biotin per mL. Thus, the biotin-binding system of human plasma appears to be a low affinity, high capacity system. A similar biotin-binding system was detected in experiments with purified human serum albumin. These results provide evidence that the majority of added [³H]biotin does not bind to plasma protein under physiologic conditions. To the extent that added [³H]biotin can be assumed to reflect reversible binding of endogenous unlabeled biotin, we infer that endogenous, reversibly bound biotin can account for no more than one-tenth of the increase in biotin detected after acid hydrolysis of plasma.

KEY WORDS: • biotin • human • plasma

¹ Supported by grant RO1-DK36823 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

² Recipient of Research Career Development Award KO4-DK01810 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

Manuscript received 4 October 1988. Revision accepted 10 October 1989.