Methods for the production of ansamitocins

1. A process for preparing purified ansamitocins comprising the steps of:

1) culturing an ansamitocin-producing microorganism in a liquid culture medium;

2) solid phase extraction of ansamitocins from the culture medium onto a hydrophobic resin;

3) isocratic or gradient elution of ansamitocins from the resin using an organic solvent or an organic solvent combined with water;

4) concentrating the extracted ansamitocins; and

5) optionally purifying the ansamitocins by any one of a), b), c) and d):

a) adsorption chromatography over silica gel or alumina,

b) crystallization,

c) adsorption chromatography over silica gel or alumina followed by crystallization, and

d) crystallization followed by adsorption chromatography over silica gel or alumina;

and wherein said ansamitocin has the following structure:

wherein R is H, COCH 3 , COCH 2 CH 3 , COCH(CH 3 ) 2 , COCH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , COCH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 or COCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 .

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ansamitocin-producing microorganism is Actinosynnema spp.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ansamitocin-producing microorganism is Actinosynnema pretiosum.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ansamitocin-producing microorganism is Actinosynnema pretiosum ATCC 31565 or a strain derived therefrom.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ansamitocin-producing microorganism is Actinosynnema pretiosum PF4-4 (ATCC PTA-3921) or a strain derived therefrom.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein said culturing is in production media at a pH in the range of about 6.5 to 8.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the pH is in the range of about 7 to 7.4.

8. The process of claim 6 , wherein the pH is about 7.2.

9. The process of claim 6 , wherein the temperature is in the range of about 15° C. to 35° C.

10. The process of claim 6 , wherein the temperature is in the range of about 25° C. to 30° C.

11. The process of claim 6 , wherein the temperature is about 28° C.

12. The process of claim 6 , wherein the temperature is about 28° C. and the pH is 7.2.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one additional nutrient is provided during said culturing.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the additional nutrient is a carbon source.

15. The process of claim 13 , wherein the additional nutrient is a carbon source followed by a carbon source and a protein nutrient.

16. The process of claim 13 , wherein there is further provided during the culturing an alcohol or an aldehyde that facilitates the formation of a C-3 ester side chain of the ansamitocin.

17. The process of claim 14 , wherein there is further provided during the culturing an alcohol or an aldehyde that facilitates the formation of a C-3 ester side chain of the ansamitocin.

18. The process of claim 15 , wherein there is further provided during the culturing an alcohol or an aldehyde that facilitates the formation of a C-3 ester side chain of the ansamitocin.

19. The process of claim 14 , wherein the carbon source is glucose.

20. The process of claim 15 , wherein the carbon source is glucose.

21. The process of claim 17 , wherein the carbon source is glucose.

22. The process of claim 18 , wherein the carbon source is glucose.

23. The process of claim 15 , wherein the protein nutrient is cotton seed flour or soybean flour.

24. The process of claim 18 , wherein the protein nutrient is cotton seed flour or soybean flour.

25. The process of claim 16 , wherein the aldehyde or alcohol is selected from the group consisting of isobutanol, isobutyraldehyde, n-butanol, n-butyraldehyde, n-propanol, n-propionaldehyde, isopropanol, isopropionaldehyde, pentanol, valeraldehyde, isopentanol, and isovaleraldehyde.

26. The process of claim 17 , wherein the aldehyde or alcohol is selected from the group consisting of isobutanol, isobutyraldehyde, n-butanol, n-butyraldehyde, n-propanol, n-propionaldehyde, isopropanol, isopropionaldehyde, pentanol, valeraldehyde, isopentanol, and isovaleraldehyde.

27. The process of claim 18 , wherein the aldehyde or alcohol is selected from the group consisting of isobutanol, isobutyraldehyde, n-butanol, n-butyraldehyde, n-propanol, npropionaldehyde, isopropanol, isopropionaldehyde, pentanol, valeraldehyde, isopentanol, and isovaleraldehyde.

28. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a pH of about 6.5 to 8.

29. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a pH of about 7 to 7.4.

30. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a pH of about 7.2.

31. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a temperature of about 15° C. to 35° C.

32. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a temperature of about 25° C. to 30° C.

33. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a temperature of about 28° C.

34. The process of claim 13 , wherein the culturing is at a temperature of about 28° C. and a pH of 7.2.

35. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

(i) chemical or heat inactivation of the microorganisms in the culture medium or;

(ii) treatment of the culture medium to facilitate solvent extraction of ansamitocins, prior to step 2 or;

(iii) a washing step in which a crude solution of ansamitocins in the organic solvent is washed with water, an aqueous salt solution, an aqueous acid or an aqueous base in any sequential combination, before or after the precipitation which can be performed during the purification; or a combination of any of (i), (ii), and (iii).