A new red pigment from an alkalophilic Micrococcus species

摘要

From the aqueous acetone extracts of an alkalophilic Micrococcus species, a new tripyrrole red pigment 1 has been isolated. The pigment which has structural similarity to prodigiosins has been characterized as 2,2'-[3-methoxy-1'-amyl-5'-methyl-4 -(1"-pyrryl)] dipyrryl methane on the basis of spectral correlations. Unlike prodigiosins, all the nitrogen atoms are in a tertiary state with the amyl chain attached to nitrogen instead of carbon. This is the first report of such a pigment from Gram positive bacteria. Preliminary studies reveal this pigment to a potent antioxidant.