Biologically active substance, bestatin, and production thereof

Abstract

This invention provides a new chemical named bestatin which inhibits aminopeptidase B, leucine aminopeptidase and bleomycin hydrolase, enhances the antitumor effect of bleomycin, has the chemical name [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl]-L-leucine and has the following structure: ##STR1## and also provides a process for the production thereof which comprises cultivating a strain of streptomyces which produces bestatin in a nutrient medium under aerobic conditions until substantial activity inhibitory to aminopeptidase B is imparted to said cultured medium and then recovering said bestatin from said cultured medium. A preferred strain is Streptomyces olivoreticuli FERM-P No. 2590 (A.T.C.C. 31159).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.