Studies on Streptomycetes

Part III. Antibiotic Activity of Zygomycin A

Abstract

In connection with the antibiotic activity of Zygomycin A, investigation was made on the stability and diffusibility of the antibiotic, and influence of inorganic salts and other chemicals on the activity.
Zygomycin A was not affected by heating at 100°(pH 2-9) for 3 hours, and it was more stable in 1_N NaOH than in 1_N HCl.
Zygomycin A was more diffusible than neomycin but less diffusible than kanamycin, and sodium chloride and magnesium chloride enhanced the diffusibility.
Magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc chloride, ferric chloride, nickel sulfate, and cobalt chloride lowered the antibiotic activity of Zygomycin A, and potassium permanganate inactivated the antibiotic completely.
Ascorbic acid and nitric acid also lowered the activity of Zygomycin A but hydrogen peroxide gave no influence. Cysteine, thioglycolate and semicarbazid lowered the activity of Zygomycin A but not so strongly as streptomycin, and ethylenediamine tetraacetate also had similar activity.