Zeocin Explained

Zeocin is a trade name for a formulation of phleomycin D1, a glycopeptide antibiotic and one of the phleomycins from Streptomyces verticillus belonging to the bleomycin family of antibiotics.^[1] It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against most aerobic organisms including bacteria, filamentous fungi, yeast, plant, and animal cells. It causes cell death by intercalating into DNA and inducing double stranded breaks of the DNA.^{[2] [3]}

Zeocin is a registered trademark belonging to InvivoGen. ^[4]

Properties

Zeocin is blue in colour due to the presence of copper ion Cu²⁺. This copper-chelated form is inactive. When Zeocin enters a cell, the Cu²⁺ is reduced to Cu⁺ and then removed. Subsequently, Zeocin becomes activated and can then bind and cleave DNA. However, the mechanism of action is not yet fully understood.^[5]

Usage

Zeocin and other related chemicals in the bleomycin family of compounds are primarily used in molecular biology as an antibiotic, especially for the selection of eukaryotic cell lines when used in conjunction with vectors containing a selectable marker for Zeocin resistance. Zeocin is considerably cheaper than phleomycin, works better in minimal media, and is therefore often used preferentially in studies.^[6]

Resistance to Zeocin is conferred by the product of the Sh ble gene first isolated from Streptoalloteichus hindustanus.^[7] The Sh ble gene product binds the antibiotic in a one-to-one ratio so it can no longer cause cleavage of DNA. This resistance gene is used as a selectable marker in some cloning and expression vectors where Zeocin is used as the antibiotic for selection.^{[8] [9]}

Plasmids with Zeocin Resistance

pFUSE-Fc plasmid

pUNO1-Sh ble^[10]

pSELECT-zeo^[11]

pSELECT-GFPzeo^[12]

External links

• Web site: Zeocin . 25 November 2016 . . December 2, 2022.

Notes and References

1. Web site: InvivoGen . Technical Data Sheet for Zeocin .
2. Ehrenfeld GM, Shipley JB, Heimbrook DC, Sugiyama H, Long EC, van Boom JH, van der Marel GA, Oppenheimer NJ, Hecht SM . 1987 . Copper-dependent cleavage of DNA by bleomycin . Biochemistry . 26 . 3. 931–42 . 2436656 . 10.1021/bi00377a038.
3. Chankova SG, Dimova E, Dimitrova M, Bryant PE . 2007 . Induction of DNA double-strand breaks by zeocin in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the role of increased DNA double-strand breaks rejoining in the formation of an adaptive response . Radiation and Environmental Biophysics . 46 . 4. 409–16 . 17639449 . 10.1007/s00411-007-0123-2. 40973182 .
4. Web site: ZEOCIN Trademark of INVIVOGEN - Registration Number 6366745 - Serial Number 79285216 :: Justia Trademarks .
5. Benko Z, Zhao RY . 2011 . Zeocin for selection of bleMX6 resistance in fission yeast . BioTechniques . 51 . 1. 57–60 . 21781055 . 10.2144/000113706 . free .
6. Benko Z, Zhao RY . 2011 . Zeocin for selection of bleMX6 resistance in fission yeast . BioTechniques . 51 . 1. 57–60 . 21781055 . 10.2144/000113706 . free .
7. Gatignol, A., Durand, H. & Tiraby, G. . 1988 . Bleomycin resistance conferred by a drug-binding protein . FEBS Lett . 230 . 1–2 . 171–175. 2450783 . 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80665-3. 19925947 . free .
8. Pfeifer TA, Hegedus DD, Grigliatti TA, Theilmann DA . Baculovirus immediate-early promoter-mediated expression of the Zeocin resistance gene for use as a dominant selectable marker in dipteran and lepidopteran insect cell lines . Gene . 1997 . 188 . 2. 183–90 . 9133590 . 10.1016/s0378-1119(96)00756-1.
9. Mulsant P, Gatignol A, Dalens M, Tiraby G . 1988 . Phleomycin resistance as a dominant selectable marker in CHO cells . Somatic Cell and Molecular Genetics . 14 . 3. 243–52 . 2453083 . 10.1007/bf01534585. 40855423 .
10. Web site: InvivoGen . Zeocin Resistance plasmid . Zeocin Resistance plasmid. 25 November 2016 .
11. Web site: InvivoGen . Zeocin Resistance plasmid . Zeocin Resistance plasmid. 25 November 2016 .
12. Web site: InvivoGen . Zeocin Resistance plasmid . Zeocin Resistance plasmid. 25 November 2016 .