Two New Antimetabolites of Biotin: α-Methyldethiobiotin and α-Methylbiotin

Abstract

Two new antimetabolites of biotin were isolated from culture filtrates of Streptomyces lydicus : β-methyldethiobiotin and β-methylbiotin. ¹⁴ C-biotin or ¹⁴ C-pimelic acid was not incorporated into either of these antimetabolites by the growing culture. Neither of the compounds could substitute for the biotin requirement in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Both compounds had a strong and rather specific antimicrobial effect against mycobacteria. Their antimicrobial activities were reversed by biotin. Both compounds had an affinity for avidin.