Hygromycin B

Hygromycin B, an aminoglycoside antibiotic synthesized by Streptomyces hygroscopicus, inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with 70S ribosomal translocation and inducing misreading of mRNA template, thus killing prokaryotes (such as bacteria), eukaryotes (such as yeasts, fungi) and higher mammalian eukaryotes.
Hygromycin resistance genes (hyg or hph) derived from Escherichia coli encode hygromycin B phosphotransferase, which detoxifies hygromycin B into a non-biologically active phosphorylated product, making it an excellent selective marker for screening and culturing prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells successfully transfected with hytromycin resistance genes. In addition, due to different modes of action, Hygromycin B is often used in combination with G418 or Blasticidin S for the selection of dual-resistant cell lines. Hygromycin B can also be used as an antiviral agent because it selectively penetrates cells with increased membrane permeability due to viral infection and inhibits translation. It can also act as an insect-repellant via mixed with animal feed.