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

Cell Membrane Integrity

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

Protein Synthesis

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

Nucleic Acid Synthesis

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

Cell Wall Synthesis & Protein Synthesis

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

Cell Wall Synthesis, Cell Membrane Integrity & Protein Synthesis

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