BIOTIN-ACTIVE COMPOUNDS, THEIR EXISTENCE IN NATURE AND THE BIOTIN REQUIREMENTS OF YEASTS

After a short account of the discovery of biotin and the progress of early biotin research, the natural occurrence of biotin with particular consideration to the raw materials used in the fermentation industry and its products is described. Of the many known biotin derivatives, those appearing in nature and those which can be converted to biotin-active (or inactive) compounds by simple procedures are reported. Ways to by-pass the need for biotin in microbes is discussed. The importance of biotin in yeast production, the biotin requirements of yeast, and the effect of culture conditions on these requirements are reported. The close relationship between the participation of biotinylenzymes and the biotin requirements is noted.