Synthesis of a Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody to the Human Sodium-Dependent Multivitamin Transporter

In mammalian cells, biotin is covalently attached to carboxylases and histones and is required for cell proliferation and function. Cellular uptake of biotin (as well as pantothenic acid and lipoic acid) is mediated by the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter, SMVT. Studies of cellular biotin homeostasis have been hampered by the lack of an antibody to SMVT. Here, we describe the synthesis of a rabbit polyclonal antibody to human SMVT. Using this antibody, SMVT has been identified in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Caco-2 cells, and HepG2 cells. Moreover, we observed that cells respond to proliferation with increased synthesis of SMVT.