The chicken avidin gene family consists of avidin and seven separate avidin-related genes
(AVRs) 1–7. Avidin protein is a widely used biochemical tool, whereas the other family
members have only recently been produced as recombinant proteins and characterized. In
our previous study, AVR4 was found to be the most stable biotin binding protein thus far
characterized (T m= 106.4° C). In this study, we studied further the biotin-binding properties
of AVR4. A decrease in the energy barrier between the biotin-bound and unbound state of …