Lipoxazolidinones A, B, and C: antibacterial 4-oxazolidinones from a marine actinomycete isolated from a Guam marine sediment.

Marine actinomycete strain NPS008920, a member of the new genus Marinispora, was isolated from a sediment sample collected in Cocos Lagoon, Guam. In natural sea water containing media, the strain produced a series of novel 2-alkylidene-5-alkyl-4-oxazolidinones, lipoxazolidinone A (1), B (2), and C (3). Compounds 1- 3 showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity similar to that of the commercial antibiotic linezolid (Zyvox), a 2-oxazolidinone. Hydrolysis of the amide bond of the 4-oxazolidinone ring of 1 resulted in loss of antibacterial activity. The 2-alkylidene-4-oxazolidinone represents a new antibiotic pharmacophore and is unprecedented in nature.