Albomycin

Literature References: Iron-containing antibiotic produced by Actinomyces subtropicus: Gauze, Braznikova, Nov. Med. 23, 3 (1951). Used as the sulfate. Consists of six components, a, b, g, d1, d2, e, of which d1 and d2 are the main components. d2 is the unstable, highly active albomycin A1; the other components are its degradation products: Braznikova et al., Biokhimiya 22, 111 (1959); Turkovà et al., Antibiotiki 7, 878 (1962). Early studies proposed cyclic hexapeptide structures containing three serines and three ornithine derivatives for d1-, d2- and e-albomycin (cf. Ferrichromes). Structural studies: eidem., Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 30, 118 (1965); Poddubnaya, el'Naggar, Zh. Obshch. Khim. 38, 450 (1968). Conflicting structural analysis shows a 3:1 ornithine : serine ratio: Maehr, Pitcher, J. Antibiot. 24, 830 (1971). Similarity to or identity with grisein, q.v.: Stapley, Ormond, Science 125, 587 (1957); Turková et al., Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 31, 2444 (1966). Review and antibacterial spectrum of albomycin and other hydroxamic acids: Gauze, Br. Med. J. 2, 1177 (1955); Bhuyan in Antibiotics 1, D. Gottlieb, P. D. Shaw, Eds. (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1967) pp 153-155; Maehr, Pure Appl. Chem. 28, 603-636 (1971); Emery, Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol. 35, 135-185 (1971).

Properties: Amorphous red powder. uv max: 283 nm (E1%1cm 880). Freely sol in water. Slightly sol in methanol. Practically insol in most other organic solvents. Aq solns have a bright orange color. Effective against penicillin-resistant pneumococci and staphylococci. The toxicity is comparable to that of penicillin.