Studies on lankacidin-group (T-2636) antibiotics. X. Microbial conversion of lankacidin-group antibiotics.

Lankacidin C, a component of lankacidin-group (T-2636) antibiotics, was esterified to lankacidin C 8-butyrate in the presence of methyl butyrate by culture broth and by cell-free extract of Bacillus megaterium IFO 12108. In addition, methyl isobutyrate, methyl valerate and methyl isovalerate served as acyl donors for the esterification, and lankacidin C 8-isobutyrate, lankacidin C 8-valerate and lankacidin C 8-isovalerate were formed respectively. Lankacidin C 8, 14-dibutyrate was hydrolyzed to lankacidin C 14-butyrate by the same organism.