Spectinomycin is an aminocyclitol antibiotic naturally produced by Streptomyces spectabilis. Spectinomycin shows in vitro inhibitory effect (31.2μg/mL) against
gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella,Enterobacter, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. It acts as a protein synthesis
inhibitor by binding to the bacterium’s 30S ribosomal subunit. Specifically, it interacts with 16S rRNA during the elongation process and blocks elongation
factor G (EF-G), which is responsible for the translocation catalysis of peptidyl-tRNA.
Spectinomycin is used as a selective resistance marker (Spc) in Leptospira spp. The Spc marker can be used for transformation screening in leptospires from
both plasmids or chromosomal integration. Spectinomycin resistance occurs through mutation of rpsE gene which encodes the protein S5, or via the aadA
bacterial gene which encodes the enzyme Aminoglycoside-3"-adenyltransferase.Spectinomycin can be also used in amplification of low copy number plasmid
carrying replicons (100μg/mL).
In the clinic, Spectinomycin is used as a treatment against Neisseria gonorrhoeae for both gonorrheal urethritis and cervictis. Spectinomycin is also a plastid protein
synthesis inhibitor. It is used as a specific marker (0.2-5 mg/mL) for cell layer to monitor leaf development, and is also used to generate plants deficient for
the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase on MS-agar media (0.5mg/mL). Spectinomycin was also studied for cattle respiratory tract infections by Pasteurella
multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica.
Store at -20℃
| Mode of action |
Protein synthesis | interferes |
| Antibiotic activity spectrum |
Gram-negative bacteria.
Gram-positive bacteria.
Mycobacteria. |
