Hatomarubigin C

A complex of new isotetracenone group antibiotics was isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces sp. 2238-SVT4. It consisted of four related compounds, designated hatomarubigins A, B, C and D, whose structures were elucidated by NMR spectral analysis including a variety of 2D techniques. They enhanced the cytotoxicity of colchicine against multidrug-resistant tumor cells.

Streptomyces sp. strain 2238-SVT4 produces hatomarubigins A, B, C, and D, which belong to the angucycline family. Among them, hatomarubigin D has a unique dimeric structure with a methylene linkage. PCR using aromatase and cyclase gene-specific primers identified the hrb gene cluster for angucycline biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. 2238-SVT4. The cluster consisted of 30 open reading frames, including those for the minimal polyketide synthase, ketoreductase, aromatase, cyclase, O-methyltransferase, oxidoreductase, and oxygenase genes. Expression of a part of the gene cluster containing hrbR1 to hrbX in Streptomyces lividans TK23 resulted in the production of hatomarubigins A, B, and C. Hatomarubigin D was obtained from the conversion of hatomarubigin C by a purified enzyme encoded by hrbY, among the remaining genes.

A new antibiotic, named seitomycin (1c), and the known microbial metabolite tetrangulol methyl ether (2) were found in the ethyl acetate extract of two terrestrial Streptomyces sp. isolates. The structure of the new antibiotic was elucidated by spectroscopic studies and by comparison of the NMR data with the structurally related hatomarubigin C (1a) and SM-196 B (1b). Seitomycin (1c) showed moderate antimicrobial and weak phytotoxic activity, similar to tetrangulol methyl ether (2).