Rapid detection and isolataion of DNA-binding compounds: from Streptomyces xanthochromogenes

J. HOLMALAHTI, S. JUNTTILA AND A. VON WRIGHT. 1996. The culture medium of Streptomyces xanthochromogenes JH903 was found to show selective activity against DNArepair-deficient Escherichia coli CM871 strain. In this report we describe a simple method to locate and isolate DNA binding compounds from the fermentation broth. The method is based on the retention of DNA-reacting compounds in cellulose complexed with DNA, and purification of these compounds with thin-layer chromatography. Screening of microbial metabolites from chloroform extracts of fermentation media resulted in detection of five genotoxic fractions.