Fluorescent Streptavidin & Biotin

Avidin and streptavidin are both tetrameric proteins composed of four identical subunits, each bind four biotins (vitamin H) per molecule with high binding affinity and specificity (Kd ~ 10¹⁵ M for avidin and ~ 10¹⁴ M for streptavidin). Although the primary sequence homogeneity of both proteins are 30%, their tertiary and quaternary structure are almost identical, and anti-avidin and anti-streptavidin antibodies are not immunologically cross reactive. Avidin, a 67 KDa glycoprotein with an isoelectric point of about 10.5, has the higher affinity than streptavidin, however it also displays more nonspecific binding and aggregation due to its oligosaccharide component (mannose and N-acetylglucosamine) and positive charge. Streptavidin is smaller (53 KDa) and has a little lower affinity than avidin yet displays less non-specific binding due to near-neutral pI value and lack of carbohydrates. Biotin, a 244 dalton vitamin found in all living cells, binds with high affinity to avidin and streptavidin. In biotechnology, biotin is conjugated to antibodies, enzymes, reporter to form the tetravalent binding nature of biotin-avidin/streptavidin complex. The valeric acid side of biotin can be incorporated with various functional groups, reporters and fluorophores that can be utilized in a wide range of biological structures and processes.