Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Herbimycins D-F, ansamycin analogues from Streptomyces sp. RM-7-15
Khaled A Shaaban1, Xiachang Wang, Sherif I Elshahawi
1Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky , 789 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0596, United States.
Abstract:
Bacterial strains belonging to the class actinomycetes were isolated from the soil near a thermal vent of the Ruth Mullins coal fire (Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky). High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and ultraviolet absorption profiles of metabolites from one of the isolates (Streptomyces sp. RM-7-15) revealed the presence of a unique set of metabolites ultimately determined to be herbimycins D-F (1-3). In addition, herbimycin A (4), dihydroherbimycin A (TAN 420E) (7), and the structurally distinct antibiotic bicycylomycin were isolated from the crude extract of Streptomyces sp. RM-7-15. Herbimycins A and D-F (1-3) displayed comparable binding affinities to the Hsp90α. While the new analogues were found to be inactive in cancer cell cytotoxicity and antimicrobial assays, they may offer new insights in the context of nontoxic ansamycin-based Hsp90 inhibitors for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Production of Antibiotics
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Antifungal Agents
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

