AMPICILLIN

Grade: Cell Culture Reagent

Potency: ≥800 µg/mg

Solubility
Soluble in water (50 mg/mL); soluble in 1 M Ammonium Hydroxide, dilute acids or bases; practically insoluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether and fixed oils.

Applications
Ampicillin is widely used in cell culture as a selective agent. As an antibiotic, Ampicillin binds to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) on a susceptible organism and inhibits cell wall synthesis by interfering with the enzymes responsible for the formation of the organisms cell wall. After binding to the PBPs, Ampicilin acts as a structural analogue of acyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine, acylates the transpeptidase enzyme and thereby prevents the cross-linking of the peptidoglycan of the cell wall necessary for the growth of the bacterium.

Product Description
Ampicillin sodium salt is a semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin, active as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It is inactivated by beta-lactamases and for this reason a beta-lactamase inhibitor should be considered when using ampicillin. Against gram-positive bacteria, ampicillin has a similar mode of action as benzylpenicillin; against gram-negative bacteria, it has a similar mode of action as chloramphenicol and tetracyclines. In E. coli it inhibits cell wall synthesis. Also described for the use of enhancing luminol chemiluminescence.

Biochem/physiol Actions
A β-lactam antibiotic with an amino group side chain attached to the penicillin structure. Penicillin derivative that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis (peptidoglycan cross-linking) by inactivating transpeptidases on the inner surface of the bacterial cell membrane. Bactericidal only to growing Escherichia coli. Mode of resistance: Cleavage of β-lactam ring of ampicillin by β-lactamase. Antimicrobial spectrum: Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Typical Working Concentration
100 mg/liter for both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It is typically stable in media at 37 °C for approximately 3 days.