New biotinylating reagent utilizing carbodiimide function.

A biotin derivative having a carbodiimide function (fig.1 Carbo-biotin) was synthesized and reacted with DNAs. This compound was used to label biotin to DNAs, by reaction of carbodiimide group and nucleotides as they form stable adducts. Our experiments showed that it is able to bind to both single and double stranded DNAs. The DNA oligomer labeled with this reagent was shown to hybridize to complementary DNA chain. From our results, this compound is expected to be a useful biotinylating reagent for non-radioactive detection.