Biosynthesis of Fattiviracin FV-8, an Antiviral Agent

Streptomyces microflavus strain No. 2445 produces many derivatives of fattiviracin antibiotics. The major product of these derivatives is fattiviracin FV-8, which consists of four glucose and two trihydroxy fatty acid residues. We found that this strain has the ability to convert several sugars in the culture medium to glucose, and the glucose added to the medium is directly incorporated into the FV-8 molecule. Two trihydroxy fatty acid residues in the FV-8 molecule are derived from acetic acid, and production of FV-8 is inhibited by the addition of cerulenin, which is an inhibitor of fatty acid biosynthesis.