[Formation of a new polyene antibiotic octamycin by a culture of Actinoplanes ianthinogenes subsp. octamycini].

A culture of Actinoplanes ianthinogenes subsp. octamycini producing a polyenic antibiotic with the UV spectrum characteristic of octaens was isolated. Optimal conditions for biosynthesis of the antibiotic were developed and an active variant 4041-6 producing 2 mg of octamycin per 100 ml of the medium was selected. A procedure for recovery of the antibiotic with the use of Sefadex LH-20 was used. Certain physicochemical characteristics of octamycin were defined. The data on the UV and IR spectra suggested the presence of an alkyl substituent in the octamycin chromophore. The antibiotic showed antitumor activity, sufficient activity against gram-positive bacteria and low activity against fungi and yeasts.