New 4-Oxovancosamine-containing Glycopeptide Antibiotics from Amycolatopsis sp. Y-86,21022.

Balhimycin is a recently introduced glycopeptide antibiotic which was isolated from Amycolatopsis sp. Y-86, 21022, DSM59081}. The characteristic structural feature of this new antibiotic is a 4-dehydrovancosamine sugar unit2), which is mainly present as ketone hydrate. Balhimycin (5) exhibits antibacterial activity in vitro and in vivo against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)strains and, in addition, is potent against manyanaerobic organisms. In order to become acquainted with the biochemical synthesis performance of Amycolatopsis sp. Y-86,21022 and to discover new glycopeptide components, we examined nutrient broths of balhimycin producers. Cultures ofAmycolatopsis sp. Y-86, 21022 as described by S. R. Nadkarni et al.X) served as starting material. By the adsorption resin technique on Diaion HP-20, the