zeocin

Zeocin is a broad-spectrum, water-soluble, copper-chelated glycopeptide antibiotic, and a member of the bleomycin/phleomycin family isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces verticillus. It is primarily used in molecular biology for the selection of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell lines with Zeocin resistance. Zeocin exhibits strong toxicity against bacteria, fungi (including yeast), plants, and mammalian cell lines. Its mechanism of action involves entering the cell where the copper ion is reduced and removed, activating the molecule, which then intercalates into DNA and cleaves it, leading to double-stranded DNA breaks and subsequent cell death. Resistance is conferred by the Sh ble gene product which binds Zeocin, preventing DNA cleavage. Zeocin is not intended for therapeutic or diagnostic use in humans or animals; its main application is laboratory selection in research contexts[1][3][5][6][7].

Brand names

Zeocin

Other names

phleomycin D1phytomycin D1bleomycin D1