Bleomycin sulfate, Thermo Scientific Chemicals

Description

Bleomycin sulfate is used as a glycopeptide antibiotic. It is capable of inducing oxidative cleavage of the DNA backbone, leading to apoptosis and also degrades RNA, and has been reported to display selectivity for RNA over DNA. Bleomycin acts as a sclerosing agent.

This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.

General Description

• Bleomycin sulfate was initially isolated from Streptomyces verticillus. It is a glycopeptide compound with antibiotic activity
• It has the ability to induce oxidative cleavage of the DNA backbone, leading to apoptosis
• Bleomycin sulfate can form a complex with iron that reduces oxygen to superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. These reactive oxygen species can cause single- and double-stranded breaks in DNA as well as promote carbohydrate oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and alterations in prostaglandin synthesis and degradation

Application

• It can be used to inhibit DNA metabolism and slow or stop cell growth. This property explains its anticancer activity
• Bleomycin sulfate can also be used to degrade RNA as it is more selective to RNA than DNA
• Local injections of bleomycin sulfate in mouse models can induce sclerotic skin mimicking scleroderma
• In laboratory research, bleomycin is used to induce pulmonary fibrosis in mice