ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ELASNIN, A NEW HUMAN GRANULOCYTE ELASTASE INHIBITOR PRODUCED BY A STRAIN OF STREPTOMYCES

Abstract

αElasnin, a new human granulocyte elastase inhibitor, produced by the strain of KM-2753 designated as Streptomyces noboritoensis KM-2753 has been isolated from the fermentation broth by column chromatography on silica gel and neutral alumina. Elasnin is a neutral, colorless, and viscous oil (n¹⁷_D=1.4983, [α] ¹⁸_D -0.9°, λ^EtOH_max291 nm (ε, 7, 760)) having a molecular formula of C₂₄H₄₀O₄ (MW 392) as shown by its elemental analysis and mass spectrum. Elasnin markedly inhibits human granulocyte elastase, but it is almost inactive against pancreatic elastase, chymotrypsin, and trypsin. At 1.3 μg/ml (3.3×10^-6 M), elasnin is 50%,
inhibitory to human elastase, but it causes 50% inhibition of pancreatic elastase at 30.1μg/ml (76.8×10-^-6 M)