NOVEL FERMENTATION PRODUCTS FROM STREPTOMYCES FRADIAE: X-RAY CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF 5-O-MYCAROSYLTYLACTONE AND PROOF OF THE ABSOLUTE CONFIGURATION OF TYLOSIN

5-O-Mycarosyltylactone has been isolated as a predominant factor from fermentation broths of a Streptomyces fradiae mutant. The relative configurations of mycarose and tylactone (protylonolide) have been determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis. Hydrolysis of 5-O-mycarosyltylactone yielded (-)-tylactone and L-(-)-mycarose. Taken together, these two experiments establish the absolute configuration of (-)-tylactone. Bioconversion of (-)-tylactone to tylosin by tyl G mutants of S. fradiae proves the absolute configuration of tylosin. Physicochemical data for tylactone and a unique component piece of tylactone are also reported.