MICROBIAL CONVERSION OF SAFRAMYCIN A TO 25-DIHYDROSAFRAMYCIN A AND 21-DECYANO-25-DIHYDROSAFRAMYCIN A (25-DIHYDROSAFRAMYCIN B) AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

25-Dihydrosaframycin A(AR₁) and 21-decyano-25-dihydrosaframycin A(AR₃) were produced by the microbial conversion of saframycin A(SA). Efficient conversion of SA to AR₁ and AR₃ was observed with Rhodococcus amidophilus IFM 144. Though the antimicrobial activity of AR₁ was one tenth that of SA, the in vitro antitumor activity of AR₁ was found to be equivalent to that of SA. In contrast, AR₃ was biologically less active.