Biocytine

White to off-white powder. Soluble in PBS or water (20 mg/ml). We do not recommend to store aqueous solutions for more than one day. Chemical. CAS: 576-19-2. Formula: C16H28N4O4S. MW: 372.48. Biocytin is a conjugate of biotin and lysine known formally as epsilon-N-(d-biotinyl)-L-lysine. The addition of lysine to biotin increases the chain length extending from biotin, allowing the synthesis of medium-chain reagents. It also provides terminal carboxyl and amino groups for derivatization or conjugation to proteins and other molecules. Covalent linking reactions typically involve carbodiimide or NHS-ester crosslinking chemistries. Biocytin is also used as an anterograde, retrograde, or intracellular neuroanatomical tracer that is fixable with aldehyde-based fixatives. It is also used in biotinidase assays. Biocytin may be injected into brain by iontophoresis or by pressure injection methods, and localized in tissue sections using avidin-conjugated labels.