Altemicidin, a new acaricidal and antitumor substance. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and physico-chemical and biological properties.

Screening of new insecticidal and acaricidal antibiotics was carried out with reference to anti-brine shrimp activity from actinomycete strains isolated from marine environments. Of 200 actinomycete isolates, one isolate was found to produce a new substance, altemicidin. The strain was isolated from sea mud collected at Gamo, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and identified as Streptomyces sioyaensis SA-1758. Altemicidin was purified by Diaion CHP-20P and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. The molecular formula was determined as C13H20N4O7S by elemental analysis, MS and 13C NMR spectrum. Altemicidin showed not only acaricidal activity but also antitumor activity. The compound showed no antimicrobial activity except the inhibitory activity to Xanthomonas strains.