Desthiobiotin-NHS

Desthiobiotin-NHS, an amine-reactive NHS tag, facilitates efficient and reversible protein enrichment. The desthiobiotin handle, a structural analog of biotin lacking a sulfur atom, exhibits a reduced binding affinity for avidin/streptavidin (µM KD) compared to biotin (pM KD), enabling gentle elution through competitive displacement with biotin or by weakening the interaction with mild alkali, thereby preserving protein integrity. This NHS tag readily conjugates to protein amines, enabling flexible, multi-cycle binding, washing, and elution. Note: the lower affinity of the desthiobiotin handle requires careful optimization to minimize non-specific interactions and potential loss during washes compared to biotin-streptavidin systems.