Studies on Avidin and Biotin

Abstract

GENERAL INTRODUCTION: Avidin is a basic protein which occurs in the egg white of hen (domestic fowl) eggs. It has been found to constitute approximately 0.05% of the total egg white proteins and its special property is that it specifically combines with the vitamin biotin to form a very stable complex. The proteins of hen egg white have been well characterised, and Table 1 shows the proteins which occur in egg white together with their special properties. This table shows that hen egg white contains a heterogeneous mixture of proteins of widely differing biological functions.