Bisucaberin, a new siderophore, sensitizing tumor cells to macrophage-mediated cytolysis. I. Taxonomy of the producing organism, isolation and biological properties.

Alteromonas haloplanktis strain SB-1123 isolated from deep-sea mud produced a new siderophore, bisucaberin. Bisucaberin rendered tumor cells susceptible to cytolysis mediated by murine peritoneal macrophages which were elicited by Proteose peptone and not yet activated by lymphokine. Bisucaberin exerted its sensitizing activity by both the preincubation with tumor cells and the addition to co-culture of macrophages and tumor cells. The activity of bisucaberin was specifically inhibited by ferric ion. Bisucaberin showed direct cytostasis for tumor cells but did not cause cytolysis in the absence of macrophages. Cytostasis by bisucaberin was attributable to the specific inhibition of DNA synthesis in tumor cells.