Biosynthetic studies of aridicin antibiotics. II. Microbial transformations and glycosylations by protoplasts.

In connection with the biosynthetic studies of the aridicin antibiotics in Kibdelosporangium aridum, various microorganisms, known to produce related glycopeptide antibiotics, have been examined for their glycosylating activity. A number of strains were found to mannosylate the aridicin aglycone, while Actinoplanes teichomyceticus was found to have deacylating activity as well. A protoplast system of K. aridum was developed and was found to possess novel glycosylating activity in addition to the mannosylating activity which was also present in the whole cells. Effects on the glycosylating activity by various membrane solubilizing agents have been discussed.