Rifampicin

Mode of Action

Strongly inhibits prokaryotic RNA polymerase and mammalian RNA polymerase to a lesser degree.

Mechanism of Resistance

Cells can spontaneously mutate to achieve resistance to Rifampicin.

Usage Notes

1. 50 mg/mL stock solution in methanol.
2. Vortex immediately to prevent rifampicin from sticking to bottom of tube.
3. Add ~5 drops 10 N NaOH per mL to facilitate dissolving.
4. Add 2 mL per liter of culture to achieve a working concentration of 100 μg/mL.

Rifampicin is light-sensitive so store stock solution, plates and media in the dark and wrap in foil.

References

J. H. Miller. A Short Course in Bacterial Genetics: A Laboratory Manual and Handbook for Escherichia coli and Related Bacteria. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1992.

J. Sambrook and D. W. Russell. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 3rd edition, 2001.