Purification and partial characterization of an antibiotic produced by Myxococcus xanthus

A strain of Myxococcus xanthus, referred to as M. xanthus TA, has been isolated which produces an antibiotic capable of inhibiting growth of certain Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Antibiotic production was significantly inhibited when the concentration of protein hydrolysate in the production medium exceeded 1%. The antibiotic was purified over 1000 times to apparent homogeneity by silicic acid chromatography and by a variety of preparative alumina thin layer chromatographic procedures. The purified antibiotic was partially characterized by its chromatographic behavior in six solvent systems, stability to acid, alkali and heat, infrared, ultraviolet, and mass spectra. The antibiotic has a λmax of 242 nm in methanol.