DESCRIPTIONS OF ANTIBIOTICS 



295 



— 290° (c = 2 per cent in acetone). Ultraviolet 

 absorption maxima at 318 iw/j. (Eilm 185) and 243 

 niju (Ei\n 1200). Infrared absorption spectrum 

 given in reference 1. Saponification equivalent, 

 427 to 489. Negative ninhydrin, biuret, Millon, 

 Hopkins-Cole, Pauly, Sakaguchi, maltol, Bene- 

 dict, ToUen, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, bro- 

 mine water, bromine (CCU), KMn()4, periodate, 

 methanolic FeCls , Molisch, zinc -ammonium 

 chloride, Zeisel alkoxyl, and hydro.xamic acid 

 tests. Positive pine-splint test. Treatment with 

 cold methanolic NaOH yields inactive levomycic 

 acid (m.p. 155-160°C) with an infrared spectrum 

 similar to levomycin. Vigorous alkaline and acid 

 hydrolyses reveal presence of at least four nin- 

 hydrin-positive components, a yellow fluorescent 

 l)igment, and a volatile acid. Possibly a peptide 

 with a chromophoric moiety. 



Biological activity: Moderately active on gram- 

 positive and gram -negative bacteria and myco- 

 bacteria. 



Toxicity: LDmo (mice) 44 mg per kg intrave- 

 nously. 



Reference: 1. Carter, H. E. et al. Arch. Bio- 

 chem. Biophys. o.'i: 282-293, 1954. 



Litniocidiii 



Produced by: Nocardia cjianea iProactinomyccs 

 cyane us -antibioticus ) ( 1 ) . 



Method of extraction: Water-extract of agar 

 culture acidified to pH 3.5 and treated with char- 

 coal. Elution with acidic acetone. Eluate evapo- 

 rated to dryness //; vacuo. Residue taken up in 

 ethanol, then precipitated by addition of water. 

 To an acidified (HCl) .solution, ether, then water, 

 is added luitil an acfueous phase separates, leaving 

 the antibiotic in the ether layer. Reprecipitated 

 from ethanol to give red form. Red form dissolved 

 in ethanol, neutralized, and ethanol evaporated 

 in vacuo to give the l)lue form (2). 



Chemical and physical properties: Possibly re- 

 lated to anthocyanin pigments, but differing from 

 them in many respects. Red at acid pH, violet 

 at neutrality, and blue at alkaline pH. Red form: 

 m.p. 144-146°C. Slightly soluble in acidic water. 

 Soluble in ethanol, acetone, and alkaline water. 

 Ultraviolet absorption spectrum maxima at 460 

 to 480 mix, 510 to 530 m/x, and 560 to 570 m^. Dry 

 powder stable. Aqueous solutions more stable at 

 acid than alkaline pH. Positive FeCls test. Blue 

 precipitate with lead acetate. Decolorized by zinc 

 dust; color restored on exposure to air. Decolor- 

 ized by bisulfite; color not restored with strong 

 acid. Does not form salts with mineral acids. 

 Strong alkali at room temperature destroys the 



l)iological activity' l)ut not the color. Heating with 

 20 per cent HCl for 10 hours at 80-90°C affects the 

 color, but not the activity. No carbohydrate 

 present. On alkaline hydrolysis gives two frac- 

 tions: an acid fraction giving a positive FeCls 

 test, ami an alkaline fraction which does not con- 

 tain phloroglucinol. Blue form: Very soluble in 

 water. Picrate: Red substance; m.p. 100-102°C 

 (2,3). 



Bioloyical activity: Active on gram-positive bac- 

 teria and mycobacteria. Very slightly active on 

 gram-negative bacteria. Activity unaffected l)v 

 horse serum. Not active on Staph, aureus in mice 

 (1). 



Toxicity: LDr,o (mice) al)out 50 mg i)er kg intra- 

 peritoneally (1 ). 



References: 



1. Cau.se, G. F. .J. Bacteriol. .il: 649-653, 



1946. 



2. Brazhnikova, M. G. J. Bacteriol. 51: 



(j55-()57, 1946. 



3. Paskhina, T. S. Biokhimiya (Engl, transl.) 



21: 453-455, 1956. 



Longisporiii 



Produced by: Actinomyces iStreptomi/ces) longi- 

 sporus (1). 



Method of extraction: Broth and mycelium ex- 

 tracted with chloroform. Mycelium re-extracted 

 four times with chloroform. Extracts evaporated 

 first at atmospheric pressure, then in vacuo. Resi- 

 due taken up in anhydrous ether, and treated by 

 passing over an alumina column. Ether taken to 

 dryness. Residue taken up in absolute alcohol or 

 petroleum ether (b.p. 60-80°C). Crystallization 

 occurs slowly in the cold. Recrystallized from 

 absolute alcohol, then petroleum ether (1). 



Chemical and physical properties: Neutral sub" 

 stance. Large snow-white prisms; m.j). 99-101°C. 

 Soluble in chloroform, ethanol, aTid petroleum 

 ether. Insoluble in water, acid, or alkali, lajr, = 

 -|-2.62° (c = 5 per cent in chloroform). C = 

 66.44%; H = 9.03%; No N, S, or P. Molecular 

 weight, 651.2. CupHj^Oii, . Product of degradation 

 with alcoholic KOH is an acid, C11H1SO4 ; m.p. 

 64-65°C. Preliminary structural formula of longi- 

 sporin (1): 



(CioHieO)— CO— O— (CioHieO) 



O 



CO-CC^H.eO.)- 



co 



I 



■0 



Biological activity: Active in vitro against myco- 

 bacteria. Active on other gram-positive bacteria 

 (1). 



