G-418 Sulfate powder is a selection antibiotic that blocks polypeptide synthesis. It can select for and maintain eukaryotic cells stably transfected with neomycin resistance genes. G-418 Sulfate is an aminoglycoside antibiotic related to Gentamicin and exhibits toxicity toward eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
It is produced by the bacteria Micromonospora rhodorangea and acts by binding the ribosome, inhibiting protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.