Method for producing maytansinol and its derivatives

• US 4,151,042 A
• Filed: 06/29/1977
• Issued: 04/24/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Tanida, Seiichi, Asai, Mitsuko, Higashide, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Lionel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/811,442
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 195/96, 195/80 R
• US Class Current: 435/119
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 17/188 Heterocyclic compound containing in the condensed system at least one hetero ring having nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms as the only ring heteroatoms ergot-alcaloids C12P17/183
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/872 Nocardia

Abstract

Maytansinol, maytanacine or maytansinol propionate is (are) produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia and being capable of producing maytansinol, maytanacine or maytansinol propionate, causing the microorganism to accumulate maytansinol, maytanacine or maytansinol propionate and recovering the same.

Those compounds are useful for anti-tumor agents.

Claims

1. A method for preparing maytansinol, maytanacine or maytansinol propionate which comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia and being capable of producing maytansinol, maytanacine or maytansinol propionate in a culture medium containing assimilable carbon sources and digestible nitrogen sources until maytansinol, maytanacine or maytansinol propionate is substantially accumulated therein, and recovering the same.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product obtained is maytansinol.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product obtained is maytanacine.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product obtained is maytansinol propionate.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microorganism is Nocardia No. C-15003 (ATCC 31281;

IFO 13726;

FERM

     3992) or its mutants or variants thereof.