Rifampicin Sodium

- Overview
  - Rifampicin Sodium (Rifampin) is a semisynthetic antimicrobial compound with immunosuppressive properties derived from Rifamycin SV and originally developed by the Lepetit group in 1965. Rifampicin shows activity against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly mycobacteria like tuberculosis, some Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and poxviruses.
    Rifampicin Sodium inhibits the assembly of DNA and protein into mature virus particles. It inhibits initiation of RNA synthesis by binding to β-subunit of RNA polymerase, which results in cell death.
    Rifampicin Sodium has been shown to inhibit α-synuclein fibrillation and disaggregate fibrils in a concentration-dependent manner. Rifampicin can activate pregnane X receptor (PXR), which affects cytochrome P450, and the activity of glucuronosyltransferases and P-glycoprotein. Rifampicin has been shown to enhance CYP2C-mediated metabolism, affect compounds that are transported by P-glycoprotein and metabolized by CYP3A4.
    
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    Background
    
    Rifampicin Sodium targets prokaryotic DNA dependent RNA polymerases which prevent subsequent RNA transcription and protein translation.
- Properties
  - CAS Number
    
    38776-75-9
    
    Molecular Formula
    
    C43H58N4NaO12
    
    Molecular Weight
    
    844.93
    
    Appearance
    
    Fine or slightly granular red powder
    
    Solubility
    
    Soluble in water and ethanol.
    
    Other Properties
    
    PH: 4.5 - 8.0
    Assay: ≥ 900 IU/mg
    Heavy Metals: ≤ 10 ppm
    Absorbance: 190 - 210
    Identification: Conforms to testing
    
    Storage
    
    2-8°C
    
    * For research use only
- Applications
  - Application Description
    
    Spectrum: Rifampicin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with a wide range of activity including:
    Gram-positive aerobic bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus spp and Rhodococcus equi
    Brucella and some other fastidious organisms are susceptible but Gram-negative bacteria more generally are resistant
    Gram-positive and Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria are inhibited at low concentrations, including Bacteroides fragilis
    Chlamydophila and Rickettsia are susceptible
    Mycobacterium tuberculosis: activity is high against this organism but most other mycobacteria are resistant
    Some protozoa
    Some fungi and poxviruses
    
    Microbiology Applications: Rifampicin Sodium is commonly used in bacterial recombinant protein expression to inhibit bacterial RNA polymerase activity and synthesis of host bacterial proteins. Rifampicin sodium can also be used as a selective agent to isolate Campylobacter jejuni.
    
    Plant Biology Applications: Rifampicin has been tested in Jerusalem artichoke tuber explants by adding 10 to 50 µg/ml to the tissue culture medium. At 50 µg/ml no bacterial infection was detectable, without affecting cell division rates, cytodifferentiation and DNA synthesis (Philips, 1981).Rifampicin is a selective inhibitor of chloroplast RNA polymerase and can be used to study chloroplast-level DNA transcription in plants.
    
    Eukaryotic Cell Culture Applications: Rifampicin has been shown to have immunosuppressive effects in mice. There are no immunosuppressive effects in humans when Rifampicin is given in doses at or below clinically recommended levels.
    Rifampicin has been shown to inhibit α-synuclein fibrillation and disaggregate fibrils in a concentration-dependent manner. Rifampicin can activate pregnane X receptor (PXR), which affects cytochrome P450, and the activity of glucuronosyltransferases and P-glycoprotein. Rifampicin has been shown to enhance CYP2C-mediated metabolism, affect compounds that are transported by P-glycoprotein and metabolized by CYP3A4.