Hygromycin B is an aminoglycosidic antibiotic purified from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. It acts by binding to the 70S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and inhibiting protein synthesis, leading to the death of bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells.
Resistance to Hygromycin B is conferred by the E. coli hygromycin resistance gene (hyg or hph). Therefore, Hygromycin B can be used to select and maintain prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells transfected with the hygromycin resistance gene. Low purity hygromycin can cause different toxic effects, so it is crucial to grasp its purity in the experiment.