Simocyclinones: diversity of metabolites is dependent on fermentation conditions

Simocyclinones, a novel group of angucyclinone antibiotics, are produced by Streptomyces antibioticus Tu 6040. The compounds show antibacterial and an titumor properties. In submerged cultivation, the production of simocyclino nes is strongly dependent on the carbon and nitrogen sources used in a chem ically defined medium. Productivity of distinct components and diversity of simocyclinone compounds are influenced by the medium composition. Four ser ies of simocyclinone compounds were detected by high-performance liquid chr omatography (HPLC) diode array detector (DAD) and HPLC electrospray ionizat ion (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, isolated and the structures dete rmined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Under optimized cond itions, simocyclinone D8 was produced in an amount of 300 mg l(-1) and simo cyclinone C4 in a concentration up to 50 mg l(-1).