The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Volume 16, Issue 7 , Pages 419-423, July 2005

Biotin — a regulator of gene expression☆

This paper was presented at the “International Symposium: vitamins as regulators of genetic expression: biotin as a model,” NAFTA Satellite Meeting to the XXV National Congress of Biochemistry held December 3–4, 2004, in Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

  • Krishnamurti Dakshinamurti

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationDivision of Stroke and Vascular Disease, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R2H 2A6. Tel.: +1 204 235 3938; fax: +1 204 896 3614.

Division of Stroke and Vascular Disease, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, M, Canada R2H 2A6

Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R2H 2A6

Received 30 March 2005; received in revised form 30 March 2005; accepted 30 March 2005.

Abstract 

The role of biotin as the prosthetic group of the four biotin-dependent carboxylases in higher organisms is well recognized. Based on the roles of these carboxylases in metabolism, the requirement of biotin for cell viability, growth and differentiation was established. Biotin seems to have a role in cell functions other than as the prosthetic group of biotin enzymes. Biotin seems to influence processes such as the proliferation of the mesenchyme, spermatogenesis and song-bird vocalization. A direct effect of biotin, at the transcriptional level, has been shown for the key enzymes of glucose metabolism. Glucokinase, a key glycolytic enzyme, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), a key gluconeogenic enzyme, are regulated in opposite directions by biotin in a manner similar to the action of insulin.

Keywords: Biotin, Gene expression, Key enzymes of glucose metabolism, Insulin

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☆ This meeting was sponsored by Sociedad Mexicana de Bioquimica A.C.; Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; Laboratorios Roche-Syntex, Mexico; and Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

PII: S0955-2863(05)00088-4

doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2005.03.015

The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Volume 16, Issue 7 , Pages 419-423, July 2005

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