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Cell Culture Antibiotic Selection Guide

Antibiotics are commonly used in cell culture to prevent contamination, maintain aseptic conditions, or select for cells containing genetic modifications. The use of antibiotics can minimize loss of cell lines and cell cultures, saving time and conserving precious resources. Proper antibiotic selection depends on both cell type and which contaminants you are trying to prevent. Selective antibiotics for generating stable cell lines or other recombinant cultures should be chosen based on the antibiotic resistance gene or selectable marker. The tables below can be used to guide antibiotic selection for your cell culture needs.

Antibiotic by Target

Cell Wall Synthesis

Inhibit

Classification

Product Type

Product No.

Antibiotic Spectrum

Gram -ve

beta-lactamase

Penicillins

Penicillin

P3032

x

Penicillins

Penicillin

P7794

x

peptidoglycan formation

Glycopeptides

Vancomycin

V1130

x

Inhibit

Classification

Product Type

Product No.

Antibiotic Spectrum

Gram -ve

Fungi

Yeast

membrane phospolipids

Polymixins

Polymixin B

P1189

x

 

 

P4932

x

 

 

ergosterol biosynthesis

Polyenes

Amphotericin B

A9528

 

x

x

A2411

 

x

x

A2942

 

x

x

E3789

 

x

x

V900919

 

x

x

Inhibit

Classification

Product Type

Product  No.

Antibiotic Spectrum

Selection Antibiotic

Gram -ve

Gram +ve

Fungi

Mycoplasma

30S ribosome subunit

Tetracyclines

Tetracycline

T7660

x

x

 

 

x

Doxycycline

D5207

x

x

 

 

x

Aminocyclitol

Spectinomycin

S4014

x

x

 

 

x

S6258

x

x

 

 

x

Hygromycin

H3274

x

x

x

 

 

H9773

x

x

x

 

 

polypeptide synthesis

Aminoglycosides

Streptomycin

S1277

x

x

 

 

 

D5155

x

x

 

 

 

Paromomycin

P5057

x

x

 

 

 

P8692

x

x

 

 

 

Gentamicin

G1264

x

x

 

x

 

G1272

x

x

 

x

 

G1397

x

x

 

x

 

G1522

x

x

 

x

 

G9654

x

x

 

x

 

Kanamycin

K0254

x

x

 

x

x

K0129

x

x

 

x

x

Neomycin

N1142

x

x

 

 

x

N3144

x

x

 

 

x

N6386

x

x

 

 

x

G418

A1720

 

 

 

 

x

G1279

 

 

 

 

x

G8168

 

 

 

 

x

Nourseothricin

N0186

x

x

x

 

x

50S ribosome subunit

Macrolides

Tylosin

T6271

 

x

 

x

 

T3397

 

x

 

x

 

Erythromycin

E5389

 

x

 

 

 

Nystatin

N1638

 

 

x

 

 

N4014

 

 

x

 

 

N6261

 

 

x

 

 

N6803

 

 

x

 

 

N9150

 

 

x

 

 

Lincomycin

L2774

 

x

 

 

 

Rifampicin

R7382

 

x

 

 

x

peptidyl transferase

Chloramphenicols

Chloramphenicol

C3175

x

x

 

x

x

Inhibit

Classification

Product Type

Product No.

Antibiotic Spectrum

Selection Antibiotic

Gram -ve

Gram +ve

Cancer cells

DNA synthesis

IMPDH inhibitors

Mycophenolic acid

M3536

 

 

x

 

PKC inhibitors

Tamoxifen

T2859

 

 

x

 

ssDNA scisson

Glycopeptides

Bleomycin

B7216

 

 

x

 

Glycopeptides

Bleomycin

B8416

 

 

x

 

RNA synthesis

Amino-nucleoside

Puromycin

P8833

 

x

x

x

Amino-nucleoside

Puromycin

P4512

 

x

x

x

Aziridines

Mitomycin C

M4287

x

x

x

 

DNA structure through alkylation

Aziridines

Mitomycin C

M5353

x

x

x

 

Anthracyclines

Doxorubicin

D5220

 

 

x

 

purine biosynthesis

DHFR inhibitors

Methotrexate

M8407

 

 

x

 

Inhibit

Classification

Product Type

Product No.

Antibiotic Spectrum

Gram -ve

Gram +ve

beta-lactamase & polypeptide synthesis

Penicillins & aminoglycosides

Penicillin-Streptomycin

G1146

x

x

G6784

x

x

P0781

x

x

P4333

x

x

P4458

x

x

P7539

x

x

TMS-AB2-C

x

x

V900929

x

x

Inhibit

Classification

Product Type

Product No.

Antibiotic Spectrum

Gram -ve

Gram +ve

Fungi

Yeast

beta-lactamase, membrane phospholipids & polypeptide synthesis

Penicillins & polyenes

Antibiotic-Antimycotic solution

A5955

x

x

x

x

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