Puromycin

Puromycin
Names
IUPAC name
3'-deoxy-N,N-dimethyl-3'-[(O-methyl-L-tyrosyl)amino]adenosine
Identifiers
53-79-2 
ChEBI CHEBI:17939 Yes
ChEMBL ChEMBL469912 
ChemSpider 388623 Yes
DrugBank DB08437 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
KEGG D05653 Yes
MeSH Puromycin
PubChem 439530
Properties
Molecular formula
 C22H29N7O5
Molar mass 471.51 g·mol−1
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Puromycin is an antibiotic that is a protein synthesis inhibitor by inhibiting translation.

Inhibition of translation

Puromycin is an aminonucleoside antibiotic, derived from the Streptomyces alboniger bacterium,[1] that causes premature chain termination during translation taking place in the ribosome. Part of the molecule resembles the 3' end of the aminoacylated tRNA. It enters the A site and transfers to the growing chain, causing the formation of a puromycylated nascent chain and premature chain release.[2] The exact mechanism of action is unknown at this time but the 3' position contains an amide linkage instead of the normal ester linkage of tRNA. That makes the molecule much more resistant to hydrolysis and stops the ribosome.

Puromycin is not selective for either prokaryotes or eukaryotes.

Also of note, puromycin is critical in mRNA display. In this reaction, a puromycin molecule is chemically attached to the end of an mRNA template, which is then translated into protein. The puromycin can then form a covalent link to the growing peptide chain allowing the mRNA to be physically linked to its translational product.

Antibodies that recognize puromycylated nascent chains can also be used to purify newly synthesized polypeptides[3] and to visualize the distribution of actively translating ribosomes by immunofluorescence.[4]

Peptidase Inhibitor

Puromycin is a reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl-peptidase II (serine peptidase) and cytosol alanyl aminopeptidase (metallopeptidase).[5][6] The mechanism of inhibition is not well understood, however puromycin can be used to distinguish between aminopeptidase M (active) and cytosol alanyl aminopeptidase (inhibited by puromycin).

Cell culture

Puromycin is used in cell biology as selective agent in cell culture systems. It is toxic to prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Resistance to puromycin is conferred by the Pac gene encoding a puromycin N-acetyl-transferase (PAC) that was found in a Streptomyces producer strain. Puromycin is soluble in water (50 mg/ml) as colorless solution at 10 mg/ml. Puromycin is stable for one year as solution when stored at -20 °C. The recommended dose as a selection agent in cell cultures is within a range of 1-10 μg/ml, although it can be toxic to eukaryotic cells at concentrations as low as 1 μg/ml. Puromycin acts quickly and can kill up to 99% of nonresistant cells within 2 days.

Selection of Escherichia coli

Puromycin is poorly active on E. coli. Puromycin-resistant transformants are selected in LB agar medium supplemented with 125 µg/ml of puromycin. But use of puromycin for E. coli selection requires precise pH adjustment and also depends on which strain is selected. For hassle–free selection and optimum results the use of special modified puromycin is possible. Plates containing puromycin are stable for 1 month when stored at 4 °C.

References

  1. ↑ Puromycin from Fermentek
  2. ↑ Pestka, S. (1971). "Inhibitors of ribosome functions". Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 25: 487–562. doi:10.1146/annurev.mi.25.100171.002415. PMID 4949424.
  3. ↑ Eggers, D.K., Welch, W.J., and Hansen W.J. (1997). "Complexes between nascent polypeptides and their molecular chaperones in the cytosol of mammalian cells". Mol Biol Cell 8 (8): 1559–1573. doi:10.1091/mbc.8.8.1559. PMC 276176. PMID 9285825.
  4. ↑ Starck, S.R., Green, H.M., Alberola-Ila, J. and Roberts R.W. (2004). "A general approach to detect protein expression in vivo using fluorescent puromycin conjugates". Chem. Biol. 11 (7): 999–1008. doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2004.05.011. PMID 15271358.
  5. ↑ Dando, P.M, Young, N.E & Barrett, A.J (1997). Biomed Health Res 13: 88–95. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ McDonald, J. K., Reilly, T. J., Zeitman, B.B., and Ellis, S. (1968). J Bio Chem 243: 2028–2037. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links