Gephyronic acid, a novel inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis from Archangium gephyra (myxobacteria). Production, isolation, physico-chemical and biological properties, and mechanism of action.

A new antibiotic compound, gephyronic acid was isolated from the culture broth of the myxobacterium, Archangium gephyra strain Ar 3895. Up to 3 mg/liter was produced during the logarithmic and stationary growth phase. The compound is an aliphatic acid, which tends to form a hemiacetal. Both forms inhibited growth of yeasts and molds (MIC 1-25 micrograms/ml) and had a cytostatic effect on mammalian cell cultures (IC50 10-60 ng/ml). Gephyronic acid is a specific inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis showing an IC50 of 1-2 x 10(-7) mol/liter in an in vitro translation assay.