Quinomycins H1 and H2, new cytotoxic antibiotics from Streptomyces sp. RAL404.

Two new cytotoxic antibiotics designated quinomycins H1 (2) and H2 (3) were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. RAL404. The molecular formula of both compounds was established as C52 H65 N11 O13 S2 by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Their structures were determined as echinomycin (1) derivatives containing a 3-hydoxyquinaldic acid molecule in place of one of the two quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid chromophores. Quinomycins H1 (2) and H2 (3) showed selective cytotoxicity against RG-E1-4 cells bearing the adenovirus oncogenes with IC50 s of 11 nM and 12 nM, respectively.