Hygromycin B from Streptomyces hygroscopicus

Hygromycin B is an antibiotic substance isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Its mode of action is the inhibition of protein synthesis, by inducing the misreading of the m-RNA template in the prokaryote, (E. coli, at 100 mg/mL), lower eukaryotes (e.g., yeast, at 200 mg/mL) and higher eukaryotes (e.g., mammalian cells in culture). It selectively penetrates cells that have been rendered permeable by virus infection and combined with its potency to inhibit translation, it is an effective antiviral agent. Hygromycin B can be used as a dual-selection antibiotic when used in conjunction with G418 or Zeocin™ for cells transfected with two different vectors.

Hygromycin B is used to select drug-resistant stable transfectants after transfer of the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene in a variety of cell culture applications. It is an aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus that kills bacteria, fungi and higher eukaryotic cells by inhibiting protein synthesis. It is used for the selection and maintenance of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that contain the hygromycin resistance gene.

Blocks polypeptide synthesis and inhibits elongation. Specifically, it inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with translocation of the 70S ribosome and inducing misreading of the mRNA template.

When using this product for mammalian cell selection the working concentration is generally between 50 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL, but at times may go as high as 1 mg/mL. The appropriate concentration for use must be determined empirically for each cell type.