Nomenclature of the Actinomycins

Abstract

Actinomycin, discovered by Waksman and Woodruff in 1940,1 was the first antibiotic to be isolated in crystalline form from a culture of an actinomycete (Streptomyces antibioticus). Waksman et al.' found that it was a red-pigmented substance, highly active against Gram-positive bacteria and, to a lesser degree, Gram-negative organisms; it proved to be extremely toxic to experimental animals. Waksman and Tishler' reported that actinomycin was optically active ([a]22, = -3200 i 50), possessing a molecular weight of about 768-1,000, and gave a melting point of 250°C. It exhibited characteristic absorption in the visible (450 mMA) and ultraviolet (between 230 and 250 muA) regions. On the basis of the analytical data, an approximate empirical formula, C41H5601,N9, was suggested. Actinomycin was thought to be a polycyclic nitrogen compound, possessing a quinonoid system. Initially, it was believed that actinomycin represented two active substances, which were designated A and B. Subsequently it was discovered that the B fraction consisted of lipoidal material contaminated with small quantities of A, and the recognition of an actinomycin B was dropped. The homogeneity of actinomycin A was based on the constant optical rotation and absorption spectra obtained when preparations of the antibiotic were crystallized repeatedly from acetone and from ethyl acetate.

Streptomyces monashensis sp. nov., a novel mangrove soil actinobacterium from East Malaysia with antioxidative potential

“…Given that cancer is a major public health issue, scientists are actively searching for effective cancer treatment options which include the discovery of potent natural antioxidant and anticancer agents from microbial sources 5,35,36 . Streptomyces is proven to be a good source of anticancer drugs; a number of anticancer drugs currently in use have been derived from Streptomyces such as bleomycin, dactinomycin, mitomycin C, and doxorubicin 37–40 . Hence, this triggered our interest to look into the potential antioxidant and anticancer activities of Sarawak mangrove-derived Streptomyces .…”

Variations on a Theme. The Actinomycins1

“…This report is an attempt to supply a score card to any interested spectators who may not be familiar with the names, numbers, and positions of the players in the game. It is not expected that any old scores on actinomycin nomenclature (Waksman, Katz, and Vining, 1958;Brockmann, Pampus, and Manegold, 1959) will be settled. We simply wish to give the letter and number designations of the various actinomycins and to indicate which actinomycins may be equivalent entities on the basis of chromatographic, physical, chemical, and biological evidence.…”

Selectively Increased Production of Acidic Actinomycin Congener, B-1625 FA2β, on Combined Use of Sarcosine and Ferrous Sulfate

“…The effects of several trace metals at 0.01 %were examined in chemically defined medium II. As shown in Table III, MgS0 4 , FeS0 4 and MnS0 4 stimulated FA-components production somewhat, respectively. rapid decomposition.…”