Biotin (Vitamin H) — 1g

Description

🧬 Biotin (Vitamin H, D-Biotin) — the prosthetic group of all carboxylase enzymes; essential for fatty acid synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. Rarely included in standard media but important for specialised lipid-producing or stress cultures.

💡 When to add biotin

Biotin is not included in standard MS or B5 — most cultured plant cells can synthesise sufficient biotin. It is added when: working with microspore or pollen culture (where de novo synthesis is limited in haploid cells), lipid biosynthesis studies (acetyl-CoA carboxylase requires biotin), or when Asparagus or some legume protocols specifically require it.

🔬 Working concentration

When used: 0.01–0.1 mg/L in medium. Nitsch & Nitsch medium for pollen culture includes 0.05 mg/L biotin as a standard component. Also present in some specialised Linsmaier & Skoog modifications.