Blasticidin S, originally isolated from S. griseochromogenes, is a bacterial metabolite renowned for its antibacterial and fungicidal activities. This compound serves as a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis, exhibiting activity against various microorganisms, including bacteria (B. subtilis, S. lutea, E. coli, P. fluorescens, and M. tuberculosis), tumor cell lines, and nematodes.

In research, Blasticidin S has become a valuable tool, notably as a marker for strain manipulations. Recent applications involve the use of Blasticidin S as a selection agent for cells carrying plasmids conferring blasticidin resistance. The resistance is mediated by the blasticidin S deaminase genes (bsr from Bacillus cereus or BSD from Aspergillus terreus). These genes produce enzymes that catalyze the hydrolytic deamination of the cytosine moiety in blasticidin S, leading to the formation of a non-toxic deaminohydroxy derivative. This resistance mechanism is crucial in various studies involving genetic manipulations and selections in cell biology and biochemical research.

Blasticidin S has been:

• studies to have fungicidal properties and prevents rice blast disease.
• used as a selection agent for transformed cells that contain the resistance genes bls, bsr, or bsd. Blasticidin S has been used to select HEK293-T cells with TLR-2 constructs and HEK-D5 cells.
• used to study protein synthesis at the level of peptide bond formation.

Mode of Action: It inhibits protein synthesis in bacteria and eukaryotes. Blasticidin S inhibits hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA induced by release factors. It enhances the binding of tRNA to the large subunit of ribosomes and to an extent inhibits peptide bond formation.

Antimicrobial Spectrum: Active against mycobacteria, several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

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