Abstract: A microbial strain which converts anthracycline metabolites into non-natural anthracycline antibiotics is described. A process for converting anthracycline metabolites into anthracycline antibiotics using a microbial strain is also described.

Abstract: Methods for producing amrubicin and structural analogs thereof. The present invention encompasses synthetic pathways for the production of amrubicin (Formula I) and structural analogs thereof. The synthetic pathways of the present invention preferably employ as a starting material an anthracycline compound having the generic Formula II: Compounds of Formula II may have any combination of the following identities for the indicated moieties: R1, R2, R3, R4, and R8 may be H, OH, or alkoxy; R5 may be H, alkyl, or alkoxycarbonyl; R6 may be H or alkyl; R7 may be OH or alkyl. In certain embodiments, ?-rhodomycinone or daunomycinone may be used as starting materials according to Formula II. The present invention employs a compound of Formula II as part of a semi-synthetic method that combines traditional chemical synthetic steps with biosynthetic steps to produce amrubicin, derivatives thereof, and structural analogs thereof.

Abstract: The invention refers to a microbial strain, which produces anthracycline metabolites at a titre of at least 0.5 g/l fermentation broth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel hybrid anthracyclines generated by cloning of fused genes in a mutated Streptomyces galilaeus strain DSM 11638. Said strain was obtained by mutagenization of the S. galilaeus wild type (ATCC 31615). The aglycone moieties of the compounds obtained are modified alkavinones, caused by the gene products introduces into the mutant, and the sugar moieties are those derived from the host strain, i.e. rhodosamine-2-deoxyfucose-2-deoxyfucose or 2-deoxyfucose-2-deoxyfucose-2-deoxyfucose, or the disaccharide or monosaccharide forms of these.

Abstract: A process for producing anthracyclines and intermediates thereof expressing in a foreign Streptomyces host a DNA fragment relating to the biosynthetic pathway of anthracyclines and, if desired, intermediates obtained may be converted to anthracyclines or aglycones thereof using e.g. non-producing Streptomyces mutant strains.