Abstract
Ristocetin is a fermentation product of Nocardia lurida (Grundy et al., 1957). The commercial preparation of this antibiotic, Spontin, is a mixture of two closely related components, designated ristocetin A (>90%) and ristocetin B. Although these two ristocetins have the same antimicrobial spectrum and exhibit no major differences in infrared or ultraviolet absorption spectra, optical rotation or elemental analysis, they can be separated by paper strip electrophoresis and paper chromatography. Their isolation, crystallization and chemical properties have been described by Philip, Schenck and Hargie (1957). The compounds are amphoteric, can be isolated as free bases and crystallized as sulphates, are soluble in acidic aqueous solutions, are less soluble in neutral aqueous solutions and are generally insoluble in organic solvents. They are very stable in aqueous acidic solutions and although there is no significant alteration in activity over a medium pH of 5.0 to 7.0 there is a rapid loss of activity above a pH of 7.5.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anderson, J. S., M. Matsuhashi, M. A. Haskin, and J. L. Strominger: Lipid-phosphoacetylmuramyl-pentapeptide and lipid-phosphodisaccharide-pentapeptide: presumed membrane transport intermediates in cell wall synthesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. US 53, 881 (1965).
Best, G. K., and N. N. Durham: Adsorption of the ristocetins to Bacillus subtilis cell walls. Abstracts of papers presented at the IVth International Congress of Chemotherapy, Washington, D.C., p. 86, 1965.
Dries, C. P., and R. Koch: Clinical evaluation of ristocetin in children. A preliminary report. Amer. J. Diseases Children 99, 752 (1960).
Fairbrother, R. W., and B. L. Williams: In vitro activity of ristocetin and framycetin, two new antibiotics. Lancet 1958 II, 1353.
Girolami, R. L.: Ristocetin: In: F. Kavanagh (ed.), Analytical microbiology, p. 353. New York: Academic Press, Inc. 1963.
Grundy, W. E., E. F. Alford, E. J. Rdzok, and J. C. Sylvester: Ristocetin, the development of resistance and bactericidal activity. Antibiotics Ann. 1956/57, 693 (1957).
Grundy, W. E., A. C. Sinclair, R. J. Theriault, A. M. Goldstein, C. J. Rickler, H. B. Warren, jr, T. J. Oliver, and J. C. Sylvester: Ristocetin, microbiological properties. Antibiotics Ann. 1956/57, 687 (1957).
Meadow, P. M., J. S. Anderson, and J. L. Strominger: Enzymatic polymerization of UDP-acetylmuramyl.L-ala.D-glu.L-lys.D-ala.D-ala and UDP-acetylglucosamine by a particulate enzyme from Staphylococcus aureus and its inhibition by antibiotics. Biochem. Biophys. Research Commun. 14, 382 (1964).
Park, J. T.: Uridine-5-pyrophosphate derivatives. I. Isolation from Staphylococcus aureus. J. Biol. Chem. 194, 877 (1952a).
Park, J. T.: Uridine-5-pyrophosphate derivatives. II. A structure common to three derivatives. J. Biol. Chem. 194, 885 (1952b).
Park, J. T.: Uridine-5-pyrophosphate compounds. III. Amino acid-containing derivatives. J. Biol. Chem. 194, 897 (1952c).
Philip, J. E., J. R. Schenck, and M. P. Hargie: Ristocetins A and B, two new antibiotics. Isolation and properties. Antibiotics Ann. 1956/57, 699 (1957)
Philip, J. E., J. R. Schenck, M. P. Hargie, J. C. Holder, and W. E. Grundy: The increased activity of ristocetins A and B following acid hydrolysis. Antimicrobial Agents Ann., p. 10 (1961).
Řehăcek, Z.: Quantitative determination of ristocetin by a microbiological diffusion method. Folia Microbial. 6, 22 (1961).
Romansky, M. J., C. W. Foulke, R. A. Olsson, and J. R. Holmes: Ristocetin in bacterial endocarditis. An evaluation of short-term therapy. Arch. Internal Med. 107, 480 (1961).
Strominger, J. L.: Biosynthesis of bacterial cell walls. In: I. C. Gunsalus and R. Y. Stanier (eds.), The bacteria, vol. III, p. 413. New York: Academic Press Inc. 1962.
Struve, W. G., and F. C. Neuhaus: Evidence for an initial acceptor of UDP-NAc-muramyl-pentapeptide in the synthesis of bacterial mucopeptide. Biochem. Biophys. Research Commun. 18, 6 (1965).
Sylvester, J. C., G. A. Olander, and V. Z. Hutchings: Intra-and extraperitoneal administration of ristocetin and polymyxin B. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1962, p. 526 (1963).
Wallas, C. H., and J. L. Strominger: Ristocetins, inhibitors of cell wall synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. J. Biol. Chem. 238, 2264 (1963).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1967 Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jordan, D.C. (1967). Ristocetin. In: Gottlieb, D., Shaw, P.D. (eds) Mechanism of Action. Antibiotics, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-46051-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-46051-7_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-46053-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-46051-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive