Phleomycin

Phleomycin is a type of antibiotic that belongs to the bleomycin family. It is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is produced by the bacterium Streptomyces verticillus. Phleomycin is used in molecular biology as a tool for genetic engineering and DNA sequencing.

Chemical Structure

Phleomycin is a complex molecule that consists of a peptide (protein fragment) and a sugar molecule. The peptide part of the molecule is responsible for the antibiotic activity of phleomycin, while the sugar part helps the molecule to enter bacterial cells.

Mechanism of Action

Phleomycin works by binding to DNA and causing breaks in the DNA strands. This disrupts the normal functioning of the DNA and leads to cell death. The ability of phleomycin to cause DNA breaks is used in molecular biology to introduce new genes into cells.

Uses in Molecular Biology

In molecular biology, phleomycin is used as a selectable marker in genetic engineering. Cells that have been successfully transformed with a new gene are able to survive in the presence of phleomycin, while cells that have not been transformed are killed by the antibiotic. This allows scientists to easily identify and select the transformed cells.

Phleomycin is also used in DNA sequencing. The antibiotic can be used to generate random breaks in DNA, which can then be sequenced to determine the order of the DNA bases.

Safety and Side Effects

Like all antibiotics, phleomycin can have side effects. These can include skin rashes, fever, and in rare cases, lung damage. However, these side effects are generally rare and phleomycin is considered to be a safe and effective tool for use in molecular biology.

See Also

• Bleomycin
• Antibiotic
• Molecular Biology
• Genetic Engineering
• DNA Sequencing