Production of deferriferrioxamines B and E from a ferroverdin-producing Streptomyces species.

When Streptomyces sp. strain Wak. A-305 is cultured in iron (III)- or cobalt (II)-containing media, tris(p-vinylphenyl-4-hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzoato-N3, O4)ferrate(II) (ferroverdin) or the analogous tris-cobalt(III) complex, respectively, is produced intracellularly. In contrast, when cultured in transition metal ion-limiting media. Streptomyces sp. strain Wak. A-305 did not produce p-vinylphenyl 4-hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzoate (deferroferroverdin). Instead, deferriferrioxamines B and E, which have been characterized from other streptomycetes, were isolated extracellularly and may act as siderophores in this organism.U