RIT 2214, a new biosynthetic penicillin produced by a mutant of Cephalosporium acremonium.

Abstract
A number of lysine-requiring auxotrophs of C. acremonium were investigated for incorporation of side-chain precursors and for accumulation of .beta.-lactam compounds. One of the auxotrophs, Acremonium chrysogenum ATCC 20389, producing cephalosporin C and penicillin N only if grown in media supplemented with DL-.alpha.-amino-adipic acid (DL-.alpha.-AAA), used L-S-carboxymethylcysteine (L-CMC) as a side-chain precursor for the synthesis of a new penicillin (RIT 2214). No corresponding cephalosporin was detected. The penicillin present in the culture filtrate was concentrated by adsorption on activated C and successive column chromatography on Amberlite IRA-68 and Amberlite XAD-4. Final purification was achieved by cellulose column chromatography. RIT 2214 was identified as 6-(D)-{[2-amino-2-carboxy)-ethylthio]-acetamido})-penicillanic acid by spectral analysis, bioactivity spectrum, elucidation of side-chain structure and finally by semisynthesis. Its biological properties [antibacterial activity] were also evaluated.

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