GAVASERIN AND SALTAVALIN, NEW PEPTIDE ANTIBIOTICS PRODUCED BY BACILLUS-POLYMYXA

A strain of Bacillus polymyxa (BP1), isolated from cauliflower seeds, inhibited the growth of microbial phytopathogens. Growth of this strai n in liquid medium containing lactose, ammonium sulfate, biotin, and a mino acids, resulted in optimal inhibition in vitro. Two new antibacte rial substances were isolated and purified from culture broth. Their m olecular masses were, respectively, 911 and 903 daltons. The first com pound was name gavaserin because it contained glutamic acid, alanine, valine, serine and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, and octanoic acid. No fatt y acid was detected in the second compound, which was named saltavalin because it contained serine, alanine, leucine, threonine, valine, and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid.