Blasticidin (solution) | ant-bl

Selective antibiotic for the bsr, bls, or BSD genes.

Selection antibiotic: endotoxin tested, sterile reagent

Blasticidin is an efficient selection antibiotic that acts on both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. 

Blasticidin is a peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces griseochromogenes that inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with the peptide-bond formation in the ribosomal machinery.

Resistance to blasticidin is conferred by the blasticidin resistance gene from Bacillus cereus (bsr), which codes for blasticidin-S deaminase [1].
Resistance to blasticidin is also conferred by the blastcidin S acetyltransferase gene (bls) from Streptoverticillum sp [2], and the blasticidin S deaminase gene (BSD) from Apergillus terreus [3].

Typically, mammalian cells are sensitive to blasticidin concentrations of 1-10 µg/ml, and bacteria to 25-100 µg/ml.
Cell death induced by blasticidin occurs rapidly, allowing for selection of transfected cell lines carrying a blasticidin resistance gene within one week. 

Specifications

Product concentration: 10 mg/ml

Quality Control: Each lot is thoroughly tested to ensure the absence of lot-to-lot variation.

Purity: ≥ 95% (HPLC)

Endotoxin level: < 1 EU/mg

Physicochemical characterization: pH, appearance

Cell-culture tested: potency validated in blasticidin-sensitive and blasticidin-resistant mammalian cell lines

Non-cytotoxicity of trace contaminants: absence of long-term effects confirmed in blasticidin-resistant cells

Contents

Blasticidin hydrochloride is supplied as a sterile filtered solution at 10 mg/ml in HEPES buffer.

This product is available in four pack sizes:

• ant-bl-05: 5 x 1 ml (50 mg)
• ant-bl-1: 10 x 1 ml (100 mg)
• ant-bl-5: 50 x 1 ml (500 mg)
• ant-bl-5b: 1 x 50ml (500 mg)

Blasticidin hydrochloride is also supplied as a powder:

• ant-bl-10p: 1 g (powder)

Blasticidin is shipped at room temperature.
Upon receipt it should be stored at 4°C or -20°C.
 Blasticidin is a harmful compound. Refer to safety data sheet for handling instructions.

Details

WORKING CONCENTRATIONS

The working concentration of blasticidin for mammalian cell lines varies from 1 to 10 μg/ml, in a few cases up to 30 μg/ml.
In a starting experiment, we recommend determining optimal concentrations of antibiotic required to kill your host cell line.
After treatment, cell death occurs rapidly, allowing the selection of transfected cells with plasmids carrying the bsr or BSD genes in as little as 7 days post-transfection.
Suggested concentrations of blasticidin for selection in some examples of mammalian cells are listed below.