THE MNIOPETALS, NEW INHIBITORS OF REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASES FROM A MNIOPETALUM SPECIES (BASIDIOMYCETES) .1. PRODUCING ORGANISM, FERMENTATION, ISOLATION AND BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES

Six novel enzyme inhibitors of RNA-directed DNA-polymerases of human i mmunodeficiency-, avian myeloblastosis and murine leukemia viruses wer e isolated from fermentations of a canadian Mniopetalum species. They were named mniopetals A, B, C, D, E and F. Their structures were eluci dated by spectroscopic methods. The compounds, in addition to their in hibitory activities on reverse transcriptases, exhibit antimicrobial a nd cytotoxic properties.