Blasticidin A is a high molecular weight tetramic acid isolated from S. resistomycificus in 1955. It has broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial activity. Like many tetramic acids, Blasticidin A is isolated as the stable calcium salt/complex. Blasticidin A and closely related Aflastatin A are specific inhibitors of the production of the aflatoxin produced by the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus.
Blasticidin A is soluble in DMF, DMSO and methanol and is moderately soluble in water and ethanol.
