Apoptosis inducing agents which contain as the active ingredient tetrocarcin derivatives represented by general formula (I) or salts thereof. These agents are useful as drugs for preventing and/or treating diseases caused by the accelerated expression of proteins of the Bc1-2 family such as cancer and AIDS; wherein --- represents a single or double bond; j and k are each 0 or 1; R1 to R3, R7 to R10 and R14 represent each hydrogen, lower alkyl, etc.; R4, R11, R12, R13 and R15 to R18 represent each hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl, etc.; R5 and R6 represent each hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl or (B) (wherein R32 represents formyl, etc.; and R33 to R35 represent each hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl, etc.); and R19 represents hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, etc.

Agent for inducing apoptosis

NEW MATERIAL:An antibiotic substance, anthramycin D, having the following physico-chemical and biological properties: Elemental analysis; C 6058%, H 750% N 204%; molecular weight, 1,336 (by titration equivalent); melting point, 220- 229 degC;[alpha]D =-690 deg(C=071, methanol); solubility, easily soluble in methanol, etc, soluble in acetone etc, slightly soluble in ethyl ether etc, hardely solbule in petroleum ether and water; color reaction, develops olive blue color by concentrated sulfuric acid, positive KMnO4 reaction, iron chloride reaction, etc; acidic white powder; exhibits growth inhibition activity to bacilli such as Bacillus subtilis and Gram-positive bacteria belonging to Micrococcus genus USE:An agent having selective activity to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacilli, cancer cells, etc PROCESS:Bacterial strain belonging to Micromonospora geus, eg Micromonospora sp T-90 (FERM-P No5005) is cultured at 25-35 degC under nearly neutral condition pref under aeration and agitation

Mizuno Taku

Papers

Novel antibiotic substance, anthramycin d, and its preparation