Isolation and characterization of elasnin, a new human granulocyte elastase inhibitor produced by a strain of Streptomyces.

Abstract
Elasnin, a new human granulocyte elastase inhibitor, produced by the strain of KM-2753 designated as Streptomyces noboritoensis KM-2753 has been isolated from the fermentation broth by column chromatography on silica gel and neutral alumina. Elasnin is a neutral, colorless, and viscous oil .**GRAPHIC**. = 1.4983, .**GRAPHIC**. -0.9.degree., .**GRAPHIC**. 291 nm (.epsilon., 7,760)) having a molecular formula of C24H4004 (MW 392) as shown by its elemental analysis and mass spectrum. Elasnin markedly inhibits human granulocyte elastase, but is is almost inactive against pancreatic elastase, chymotrypsin, and trypsin. At 1.3 .mu.g/ml (3.3 .times. 10-6 M), elasnin is 50% inhibitory to human elastase, but it caused 50% inhibition of pancreatic elastase at 30.1 .mu.g/ml (76.8 .times. 10-6 M).