Novel linear polyene antibiotics: linearmycins

Abstract

Two novel linear polyene antibiotics, termed linearmycin A 1 and B 2, have been isolated from the mycelial extracts of Streptomyces sp. no. 30 and characterized as compounds 1 and 2, respectively. These compounds have similar, long linear structures terminating with amino and carboxylic acid groups, and show antifungal and antibacterial activity. The incorporation experiments using ¹³C-labelled acetate and propionate suggest that 1 is biosynthesized from one γ-aminobutyric acid, 24 acetate and 4 propionate molecules, by a polyketide pathway.