Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of antitumor antibiotics. The actinomycins are a group of antibiotics possessing a quinoid-containing phenoxazine chromophore(3-amino-l,8-dimethyl-2-phenoxazone-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) and differ in the amino acid components on two symmetrically substituted polypeptide side chains attached through the carboxylic group. These side chains are necessary for antitumor activity. The new group of ansamycin antibiotics, ansamitocins, having potent antitumor activity was isolated from a fermentation broth of Nocardia sp. No. C-1500s by Higashide et al. Structure of ansamitocin was found to be similar to maytansine and related maytansinoids obtained from plant sources by Kupchan et al. It is very important that the discovery of a microorganism producing ansamitocin opened the way for production of new antitumor ansa macrolides by fermentation, because maytansinoides are only harvested from tropical plants, Maytenus serrata and M. buchananii, and their contents in the plants are extremely low.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
