Abstract
THE elucidation of the structures of the polymyxins and the related antibiotic circulin A has so far revealed a remarkable consistency. Polymyxins B1 and B2 (refs. 1 and 2), polymyxins E1 and E2 (identical with colistins A and B, respectively)3,4, and circulin A (ref. 5) are now known to be cyclic decapeptides, each possessing a ring of seven amino-acids and a chain of three amino-acids attached to the ring at the α-amino-group of an αγ-diaminobutyric (DAB) acid component. As shown in the accompanying formula, differences occur in the nature of the accompanying aliphatic acid and of certain amino-acid constituents.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Suzuki, T., Hayashi, K., Fujikawa, K., and Tsukamoto, K., J. Biochem. (Japan), 54, 555 (1963); 56, 335 (1964).
Wilkinson, S., and Lowe, L. A., Nature, 202, 1211 (1964); 204, 185 (1964).
Suzuki, T., Inouye, H., Fujikawa, K., and Suketa, Y., J. Biochem. (Japan), 54, 25 (1963). Suzuki, T., Inouye, H., Fujikawa, K., and Nagasawa, S., J. Biochem. (Japan), 54, 173 (1963). Suzuki, T., Hayashi, K., and Fujikawa, K., J. Biochem. (Japan), 54, 412 (1963). Suzuki, T., Hayashi, K., Fujikawa, K., and Tsukamoto, K., J. Biochem. (Japan), 57, 226 (1965).
Wilkinson, S., and Lowe, L. A., Nature, 204, 993 (1964). Wilkinson, S., and Lowe, L. A., J. Chem. Soc., 4107 (1964).
Suzuki, T., Hayashi, K., Fujikawa, K., and Suketa, Y., Experientia, 21, 307 (1965).
Khokhlov, A. S., and Ch'ih Ch'ang-ch'ing, Biokhimiya, 26, 296 (1961). Il'inskaya, S. A., and Rossovskaya, V. S., Antibiotiki, 3, 10 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WILKINSON, S., LOWE, L. Structures of the Polymyxins A and the Question of Identity with the Polymyxins M. Nature 212, 311 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/212311a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/212311a0
This article is cited by
-
Endophytes-assisted biocontrol: novel insights in ecology and the mode of action of Paenibacillus
Plant and Soil (2016)
-
Comparative genome analysis of Bacillus spp. and its relationship with bioactive nonribosomal peptide production
Phytochemistry Reviews (2013)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.