Macrolactams: a novel class of antifungal antibiotics produced by Actinomadura spp. SCC 1776 and SCC 1777

Abstract

Three novel antifungal antibiotics, Sch 38518, Sch 39185 and Sch 38516 were isolated from the fermentation broths of two actinomycetes identified by chemical, morphological and physiological analysis as a new species of Actinomadura. The compounds were isolated from broth by solvent extraction and purified by silica gel chromatography. Physico-chemical properties, mass spectral analysis, IR and UV suggested the compounds were similar. Sch 38518 and Sch 39185 have a molecular formula of C25H48N2O5. 1H NMR, 13C NMR and hydrolysis indicated the aglycones were identical, however the compounds differed in containing isomeric sugar moieties. Sch 38518 contains mycosamine while Sch 39185 contains 3,6-dideoxy-3-amino-L-talopyranose. Sch 38516 has a molecular formula of C24H46N2O5 and is a lower homolog of Sch 39185. The three compounds, Sch 38518 (1), Sch 39185 (2), and Sch 38516 (3) exhibit similar activity against Candida spp. with geometric mean MICs of 1.81, 2.00 and 0.91 micrograms/ml, respectively.