Separation of prodigiosenes and identification as prodigiosin syntrophic pigment from mutant pairs of Serratia marcescens.

Countercurrent distribution is capable of resolving mixtures of closely related prodigiosene pigments. Syntrophic pigment produced by several pairs of Serratia marcescens color mutants was identified as prodigiosin (2-methyl-3-amyl-6-methoxyprodigiosene) by countercurrent distribution, soda lime pyrolysis, and other techniques. The metabolic block of mutant strain H-462, derived from parent strain HY, was located between the blocks of mutant strains OF and WF, both derived from parent strain Nima.