Desertomycin: purification and physical-chemical properties

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Spectroscopic Analysis

Background:

• Desertomycin is an antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces macronensis.
• It belongs to the macrocyclic lactone family of compounds.
• Previous reports suggested glutamic acid as a constituent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the chemical structure and composition of desertomycin.
• To confirm or refute the presence of glutamic acid in desertomycin.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of desertomycin from Streptomyces macronensis.
• Extensive spectroscopic analysis, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy.
• Mild acid hydrolysis to determine constituent sugars and amino acids.

Main Results:

• Desertomycin was placed in the macrocyclic lactone family.
• The apparent molecular formula was determined as C57H109NO24 (MW = 1,191).
• Mild acid hydrolysis yielded mannose; glutamic acid was not detected.

Conclusions:

• Desertomycin is a novel macrocyclic lactone antibiotic.
• Its structure is C57H109NO24, containing mannose but not glutamic acid.
• This finding refutes previous reports regarding glutamic acid content.