Hygromycin B

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Hygromycin B

Hygromycin B (/haɪˈɡrɒmɪsɪn/ hye-GROM-ih-sin) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. It is used primarily in molecular biology and genetics as a selective agent to isolate and study cells that have been transformed or transfected with a plasmid.

Etymology

The term "Hygromycin B" is derived from the genus name of the bacterium that produces it, Streptomyces hygroscopicus. The suffix "-mycin" is common in antibiotics and is derived from the Greek "mykes" meaning fungus, reflecting the fact that many antibiotics were originally isolated from fungi. The "B" distinguishes this compound from other related compounds in the hygromycin family.

Usage

Hygromycin B is used in molecular biology as a tool for gene selection. When cells are transfected with a plasmid, the plasmid often includes a gene that confers resistance to hygromycin B. Only the cells that have successfully incorporated the plasmid, and thus the resistance gene, will survive in a culture medium containing hygromycin B. This allows researchers to easily identify and study the transfected cells.

Related Terms

  • Aminoglycoside: A class of antibiotics that includes hygromycin B.
  • Antibiotic: A type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria.
  • Bacterium: A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms.
  • Streptomyces hygroscopicus: The bacterium that produces hygromycin B.
  • Molecular biology: The branch of biology that deals with the structure and function of the macromolecules essential to life.
  • Genetics: The study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.
  • Plasmid: A small DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently.

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