Subtenolin. An Antibiotic from Bacillus subtilis . II. Isolation and Chemical Properties

Discussion and Summary

It may be seen from Table I that subtenolin is quite different chemically from other antibiotics such as streptomycin, penicillin G, gramicidin, and bacitracin. Subtenolin, bacitracin, bacillin, subtilin, and eumycin are products of various strains of B. subtilis. Gramicidin 4 and bacitracin 5 appear to be peptides. Subtilin, which is extracted from the pellicles of a particular strain of B. subtilis, is of unknown chemical composition. 6 Eumycin is prepared by acid precipitation of the medium. 7 The chemical relationship between bacillin and subtenolin has not been ascertained since data pertaining to the chemical nature of bacillin is not available for comparison. 8

Subtenolin has a low molecular weight. Its chemical and physical properties indicate that it contains a resonating double bond, phenolic groups, a very active enolic group, and an aromatic aldehyde radical. This antibiotic gives typical color reactions such as the Molisch and enol reaction. These tests, and the indicator test shown in Table I, may be used in its identification. Although the antibiotic has not been obtained in a pure state, its chemical and antibiotic properties, particularly its stability in aqueous solution or when dry, make it an interesting object for further studies.