PC-766B, a new macrolide antibiotic produced by Nocardia brasiliensis. I. Taxonomy, fermentation and biological activity

An actinomycete strain SC-4710, a new soil isolate, was found to produce a new macrolide antibiotic, PC-766B. Chemotaxonomic analysis of the producing organism revealed that the cells of SC-4710 had type IV cell wall, type A whole cell sugar pattern, type PII phospholipids, menaquinone MK-8(H4), cellular fatty acids comprising straight-chain saturated, unsaturated and tuberculostearic acids, and mycolic acids. The strain was identified as Nocardia brasiliensis (Lindenberg) Pinoy. The antibiotic, PC-766B, was active against Gram-positive bacteria, and some fungi and yeasts, but inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. It also showed antitumor activity against murine tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and a weak inhibitory activity against Na+, K(+)-ATPase in vitro.