Comparative analysis of hexaene antibiotics.

A study of nine hexaene antibiotics resulted in their assignment to three subgroups on the basis of their bioactivities. Separation of individual components of the nine antibiotic complexes was accomplished by thin-layer chromatography. Similarities and differences among members of the subgroups were established by thin-layer chromatography, spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Two antibiotics (endomycin and hexafungin) were found to be similar.