Intra- and interspecific cosynthetic activity of mutants ofStreptomyces coeruleorubidus andStreptomyces galilaeus impaired in the biosynthesis of anthracyclines

Abstract

Cosynthesis of anthracycline compounds was followed in five phenotypic groups of mutants ofStreptomyces coeruleorubidus (A - E), blocked in the biosynthesis of the daunomycine complex, and in two mutant types ofStreptomyces galilaeus (F, G) blooked in the biosynthesis of glycosides of ε-pyrromy-cinone and aklavinone. Glycosides of daunomycinone and 13-dihydrodaunomycinone were produced in combinations A + B, A + C, A + D, A + E and A + F, ε-rhodomycinone was synthesized in combinations A + E, A + F, B + E and B + F. During the cultivation of types B - E with type G or F non-anthra-cycline compounds, typical ofS. galilaeus, were cosynthesized. No cosynthesis could be observed in other combinations of the mutant types. Negative results were also obtained with combinations of mutants of the same group and during cultivation of all mutant types with streptomycetes not producing anthracyclines. A scheme illustrating metabolic pathways leading to the biosynthesis of daunomycinone, aklavinone, ε-pyrromycinone and ε-rhodomycinone inS. coeruleorubidus andS. galilaeus was constructed.