Phosphorylation of Lividomycin by Escherichia coli Carrying an R Factor

A lividomycin-phosphorylating enzyme from a lividomycin-resistant strain ofEscherichia coli carrying an R factor was partially purified by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The enzyme inactivated, in the presence of adenosine triphosphate and Mg2+ , several antibiotics having ad -ribose moiety linked to 2-deoxystreptamine, i.e., lividomycin A and B, neomycin, paromomycin, and vistamycin, but did not inactivate the kanamycins, streptomycin, or the gentamicin C components. Chemical studies of the inactivated product suggested that the phosphorylated site of the inactivated lividomycin was the hydroxyl group of thed -ribose moiety.