Carolacton - A Macrolide Ketocarbonic Acid that Reduces Biofilm Formation by the Caries- and Endocarditis-Associated Bacterium Streptococcus mutans

The macrolide ketocarbonic acid carolacton (1) was isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum, strain So ce960, because of its antibiotic activity. Subsequently, carolacton (1) was discovered to be a highly potent agent against biofilms containing the caries- and endocarditis-associated bacterium Streptococcus mutans. The 2D structure of I was elucidated by FIRMS, IR and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Initially, the stereogenic centres were determined by chemical derivatization in combination with computional methods and finally verified by X-ray analysis.