Blasticidin is a nucleoside antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces griseochromogenes. It is a potent translational inhibitor in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Resistance to blasticidin is conferred by the product of the bsd gene from Aspergillus terreus. Blasticidin has a fast, potent mode of action, causing rapid cell death at low antibiotic concentrations. E. coli strains are generally sensitive to concentrations of 50 µg/ml, while mammalian cells are sensitive to concentrations as low as 2 to 10 µg/ml. Cell death occurs rapidly, and blasticidin-resistant stable mammalian cell lines can be generated in less than one week.
Table 1 - Suggested Blasticidin Concentrations
Cell Line | Concentration [ug/ml] | Reference |
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HT1080 (human fibrosarcoma) | 1-5 10 20 | J Biol Chem283:11556–11564 (2008) J Virol82:7325–7335 (2008) Mol Biol Cell 19:8–16 (2008) |
HeLa (human cervical cancer) | 10 10 20 | J Gen Virol89:2611–2621 (2008) Mol Biol Cell19:8–16 (2008). J Immunol 181:22–26(2008) |
HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) | 5 10 | J Biol Chem283:27534–27546 (2008) J Virol82:1665–1678 (2008) |
Hep G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) | 4 5 | J Biol Chem283:16320–16331 (2008) Blood113: 1786–1793 (2009) |
MCF-7 (human breast cancer) | 2 5 | Mol Cancer Res6:555–567 (2008) Mol Endocrinol22: 361–379 (2008) |
A549 (lung cancer) | 10 | Cancer Res68:5040–5048 (2008) |