Tallysomycin, a new antitumor antibiotic complex related to bleomycin. IV. New biosynthetic derivatives of tallysomycin.

A series of new biosynthetic derivatives of tallysomycins A and B were obtained by precursor amine-feeding fermentation. Certain diamines were incorporated into tallysomycins as the terminal amine moiety affording two classes of biosynthetic derivatives, with or without the Beta-lysine moiety in the subterminal position. Among 21 derivatives prepared, tallysomycin S10b was selected for further studies in view of its favorable therapeutic indices.