Using anthramycin, a potent antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces refuineus, as an example, we have developed a rational model for the evolution of the capability of this microorganism to produce, tolerate and retain the genetic information needed to make this extremely potent secondary metabolite. The concepts and ideas outlined in this article have also been applied in a more general way to other antibiotics with the hope that this might stimulate research designed to test some of these concepts.

See more in PubMed

Annu Rev Microbiol. 1978;32:373-92 PubMed

Biochemistry. 1976 Aug 24;15(17):3760-9 PubMed

Bacteriol Rev. 1977 Jun;41(2):449-74 PubMed

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1977 May;30(5):349-70 PubMed

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1976 Oct;29(10):987-1000 PubMed

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1979 Jan;15(1):42-5 PubMed

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1972 Aug;25(8):437-44 PubMed

Nature. 1963 Aug 3;199:501 PubMed

Biochemistry. 1981 Mar 3;20(5):1111-9 PubMed

Annu Rev Microbiol. 1977;31:343-56 PubMed

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1979 Aug;16(2):176-82 PubMed

Nature. 1979 Apr 26;278(5707):859-61 PubMed

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1981 Sep;34(9):1171-4 PubMed

J Theor Biol. 1971 Jan;30(1):111-9 PubMed

Adv Appl Microbiol. 1961;3:293-342 PubMed

J Bacteriol. 1979 Mar;137(3):1464-7 PubMed

J Gen Microbiol. 1980 Sep;120(1):95-104 PubMed

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1976 Jan;29(1):93-6 PubMed

Perspect Biol Med. 1971;14(4):565-77 PubMed

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1972 Nov;25(11):668-73 PubMed