A DNA-interacting transcription blocker with anti-cancer activity
Technical Support & Resources

Information provided in the product description is from published literature. Due to the nature of scientific experimentation, your results (e.g., selectivity and effective concentrations) or specific application for this product may differ. If you have questions about how this product fits your application, please contact our technical support staff.

Visit our FAQ

Contact Us

Toll Free Phone (USA and Canada Only): (888) 526-5351
Direct Phone: (734) 975-3888

Request Technical Support

Technical Support Request

To streamline the process attach the appropriate questionnaire to your inquiry.

Download IHC QuestionnaireDownload WB Questionnaire

View Our Privacy Statement for details on how we use and protect your data. In addition, this site is protected by hCaptcha and its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Product Categories

Product Type

Biochemicals
Antibiotics

Research Area

Cancer
Cell Death
DNA Damage and Repair

Actinomycin D

Item No. 11421

Product Insert (PDF)Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (PDF)
Technical Information
Formal Name
2-amino-N,N'-bis(hexadecahydro-6,13-diisopropyl-2,5,9-trimethyl-1,4,7,11,14-pentaoxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-i][1,4,7,10,13]oxatetraazacyclohexadecin-10-yl)-4,6-dimethyl-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-dicarboxamide
CAS Number
50-76-0
Synonyms
  • Cosmegen
  • Dactinomycin
  • Meractinomycin
  • NCI C04682
  • NSC 3053
  • Oncostatin K
Molecular Formula
C62H86N12O16
Formula Weight
1255.4
Purity
≥95%
Formulation (Request formulation change)
A crystalline solid
Solubility(Learn about Variance in Solubility)
DMF: 20 mg/mlDMF:PBS(pH 7.2)(1:1): 0.5 mg/mlDMSO: 10 mg/ml
λmax
204, 240, 444 nm
SMILES
CC1=C2C(C(C(N[C@H](C(N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(N3[C@@](C(N(C)CC4=O)=O)([H])CCC3)=O)=O)[C@@H](C)OC([C@H](C(C)C)N4C)=O)=O)=C(N)C1=O)=NC5=C(C(N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)OC([C@H](C(C)C)N(C)C(CN(C([C@]6([H])CCCN6C([C@H](C(C)C)N7)=O)=O)C)=O)=O)C7=O)=O)C=CC(C)=C5O2
InChi Code
InChI=1S/C62H86N12O16/c1-27(2)42-59(84)73-23-17-19-36(73)57(82)69(13)25-38(75)71(15)48(29(5)6)61(86)88-33(11)44(55(80)65-42)67-53(78)35-22-21-31(9)51-46(35)64-47-40(41(63)50(77)32(10)52(47)90-51)54(79)68-45-34(12)89-62(87)49(30(7)8)72(16)39(76)26-70(
InChi Key
RJURFGZVJUQBHK-DCUCITLNSA-N
Shipping & Storage Information
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere
Recommended Products

Certificates of Analysis & Batch Specific Data

Provide batch numbers separated by commas to download or request available product inserts, QC sheets, certificates of analysis, data packs, and GC-MS data.

Download most recent Certificate of Analysis for this product

    5 mg

    $76

    Add

    10 mg

    $137

    Add

    25 mg

    $304

    Add

    50 mg

    $532

    Add
    Cayman Chemical
    Visit Our Cancer Resource Center
    Find Tools & Resources to Study the Hallmarks of Cancer
    • Cancer cell signaling & regulation
    • Cancer metabolism
    • Tumor microenvironment
    EXPLORE NOW
    Product Description

    Actinomycin D is a cyclic polypeptide-containing antibiotic that binds to DNA and blocks transcription. It binds to pre-melted double-stranded DNA in transcription bubbles and once bound is slow to dissociate.1,2 DNA in transcriptionally hyperactive cancer cells efficiently and rapidly bind actinomycin D at low concentrations (~10 nM), which interferes with RNA synthesis and ultimately leads to cell death.1,3 Actinomycin D is widely used as an anticancer agent for treating a variety of tumors and along with its fluorescent derivative, 7-aminoactinomycin D (Item No. 11397) has become a useful tool in biochemistry and molecular biology research as a marker for DNA.

    WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

    References & Product Citations
    Product Description References

    1. Paramanathan, T., Vladescu, I., McCauley, M.J., et al. Force spectroscopy reveals the DNA structural dynamics that govern the slow binding of Actinomycin D. Nucleic Acids Res. 40(11), 4925-4932 (2012).

    2. Sobell, H.M. Actinomycin and DNA transcription. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 5328-5331 (1985).

    3. Choong, M.L., Yang, H., Lee, M.A., et al. Specific activation of the p53 pathway by low dose actinomycin D: A new route to p53 based cyclotherapy. Cell Cycle 8(17), 2810-2818 (2009).

    Product Citations

    Price, A.M., Steinbock, R.T., Di, C., et al. Adenovirus prevents dsRNA formation by promoting efficient splicing of viral RNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 50(3), 1201-1220 (2022).

    Liu, J., Song, Y., Wang, Y., et al. Cyclodextrin-Functionalized Gold Nanorods Loaded with Meclofenamic Acid for Improving N6-Methyladenosine-Mediated Second Near-Infrared Photothermal Immunotherapy. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 14(36), 40612-40623 (2022).

    Du, Y., Han, M., Cao, K., et al. Gold nanorods exhibit intrinsic therapeutic activity via controlling N6-methyladenosine-based epitranscriptomics in acute myeloid leukemia. ACS Nano 15(11), 17689-17704 (2021).

    Sun, K., Du, Y., Hou, Y., et al. Saikosaponin D exhibits anti-leukemic activity by targeting FTO/m6A signaling. Theranostics 11(12), 5831-5846 (2021).

    Yan, F., Al-Kali, A., Zhang, Z., et al. A dynamic N6-methyladenosine methylome regulates intrinsic and acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Cell Res. 28(11), 1062-1076 (2018).