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

HT1080
(human fibrosarcoma)

1-5

10

20

J Biol Chem 283:11556–11564 (2008)

J Virol 82:7325–7335 (2008)

Mol Biol Cell 19:8–16 (2008)

HeLa
(human cervical cancer)

10

10

20

J Gen Virol 89:2611–2621 (2008)

Mol Biol Cell 19:8–16 (2008).

J Immunol 181:22–26 (2008)

HEK293
(human embryonic kidney)

5

10

J Biol Chem 283:27534–27546 (2008)

J Virol 82:1665–1678 (2008)

Hep G2
(human hepatocellular carcinoma)

4

5

J Biol Chem 283:16320–16331 (2008)

Blood 113: 1786–1793 (2009)

MCF-7
(human breast cancer)

2

5

Mol Cancer Res 6:555–567 (2008)

Mol Endocrinol 22: 361–379 (2008)

A549 (lung cancer)

10

Cancer Res 68:5040–5048 (2008)