Staphylococcal micrococcins. II. Isolation, purification and identification.

Seven strains belonging to the Micrococcaceae family and excreting substances with antibiotic activity, were grown in submerged cultures on technical scale for isolation, purification and identification of biologically active compounds. Two basic substances were isolated and classified to the micrococcin antibiotics family. The naturally occurring mixture of micrococcin M1 and M3 was called micrococcin M. This antibiotic has the formula C48H50O11N12S6 and a molecular weight of about 1160, melting point 221--224 degrees C, and optical rotation [a]20/D = + 66.6. Other antibiotically active substances produced by seven investigated strains were identified as micrococcin M or as separate compounds. Comparison with previously described micrococcin and micrococcin P has been made.