Epothilons A and B: antifungal and cytotoxic compounds from Sorangium cellulosum (Myxobacteria). Production, physico-chemical and biological properties.

An antifungal activity against Mucor hiemalis was detected in the culture broth of Sorangium cellulosum (Myxococcales) strain So ce90. The activity was excreted into the supernatant during the log and early stationary phase. When the adsorber resin XAD-16 was added to the culture, the active metabolites were quantitatively bound to the resin. The epothilons showed a high cytotoxicity for animal cells and mimic the biological effects of taxol (BOLLAG et al., Cancer Res. 55: 2325 approximately 2333, 1995).