WO1991009034A1

WO1991009034A1 - Indolocarbazoles from saccharothrix aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa subsp. nov. scc 1951 atcc 53856

Info

Publication number: WO1991009034A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/007174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ellen B. Barrabee; Ann C. Horan; Frank A. Gentile; Mahesh G. Patel
Original assignee: Schering Corporation
Priority date: 1989-12-14
Filing date: 1990-12-12
Publication date: 1991-06-27
Also published as: IE904496A1; AU7035991A

Abstract

The indolocarbazoles represented by formula (I) wherein Ra and Rb are each H or Ra and Rb taken together are A or B wherein R1 and R2 are independently H or OH or OCH3 and R3 is OH, NHCH3, NCH3 COCH3 or NHCOCH3 and R4 is OH or H and, stereochemical isomers thereof or pharmaceutical compositions thereof useful for inhibiting myosin light chain kinase, protein kinase C or tumor cell proliferation as well as producing an antihypertensive effect and an anti-inflammatory effect in warm-blood animals such as man are disclosed with the provisos that (1) when Ra and Rb together are A, and R1=H or OH, R3 is not NHCH3; (2) when Ra and Rb together are B, then R1=R4=H; (3) when Ra=Rb=H R1=-OCH3, and (4) when Ra and Rb taken together are A, and R1=H, R3 is not (II).

Description

INDOLOCARBAZOLES FROM SACCHAROTHRIX

AEROCOLONIGENES SUBSP. COPIOSA SUBSP. NOV.

SCC 1951, ATCC 53856

BACKGROUND

This invention: relates to indolocarbazotes, e xciuding the N-alkanoylstaurosporine derivatives, isolated from an antimicrobial, eg. antibacterial/antϊfungal indolocarbazole com plex produced by

fermentation of a biologically pure culture of Saccharothrix

aerocolonigenes subsps, copiosa subsp. nov. SCC 1951, ATCC 53856. The indolocarbazoles of this invention exhibit selective pharmacological activities, for example in cardiovascular disorders; especially anti hypertensive activity, against proliferation of tumor cells, on inflammation as well as on microbial infections such as caused by bacteria or fungi.

Various indolocarbazoles are known. The

indolocarbazole, staurosporine (AM-2282) is disclosed in USP

4,107,297 as having antibiotic activity in yeast and fungi as well as having a therapeutic effect on hypertension, edema and ulcers. The indolocarbazoles, TAN-999 and TAN-1030A isolated from culture broths of Nocardiopsis dassonvillei and Streptomyces sp as well as the N- acetyl derivative of the amino-derivative of TAN-1030A are disclosed by S. Tanida et al. in J. of Antibiotics Nov. 1989, Vol. XLII (#11) pp. 1619-30 as having macrophage-activating properties . Various staurosporin derivative including N-acetyl staurosporine are disclosed in WIPO 89/07105 by Murakata et al. of KYOWA HAKKO KOGYO Co. Ltd. on August 1989 as protein Kinase C inhibitors and cell growth inhibitors. N-acetylstaurosporine is disclosed and in Australian Patent Application - 17571/88 by CIBA-Geigy on December 15, 1988 as a N-substituted derivative of staurosporine being capable of selective modification of the activity of protein kinase C and as such can be useful for the preventive or curative treatment of diseases in which the inhibition of protein kinase C is of importance in a warm blooded animal as well as can be employed as medicaments for tumor-inhibition, inflammation-inhibition, immunomodulation and also in preparations for combating bacterial infections, arteriosclerosis, as well as other diseases of the

cardiovascular system and of the central nervous system.

However, staurosporine is toxic and is disclosed in USP

4,735,939 to have broad spectrum insecticidal activity. 7- Hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01 ) is disclosed in The Journal of

Antibiotics (December, 1987), Vol. XL, No. 12 pages 1782-1784 to inhibit protein kinase C and protein kinase A and shows antitumor activity again st murine ly mphotic leukem ia P388 in vivo. However; the

P388 in vivo test is known not to be predictive of clinical behavior in man. Indolocarbazoles K-252a, K-252b, c and d are disclosed to be potent inhibitors of protein kinase C (see The Journal of Antibiotics

(August, 1986)), VoL XXXIX (No.8) pp. 1059-1065 K-252a and Vol. XXXIX (No. 8) pp. 1 -66-1071 K-252b, c and d.

The novel indolocarbazoles of this invention have selective pharmacological properties which are distinguishable from those of the known indolocarbazoles. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula I:

wherein R_a and R_b are each H or R_a and R_b taken together are

wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently H or OH or OCH₃ and R₃ is OH, NHCH₃, NCH₃COCH₃ or NHCOCH₃ and R₄ is OH o r H, with the provisos that (1) when R_a and R_b taken together are A, and R₁ = H or OH, R₃ is not NHCH₃; (2) when R_a and R_b taken together are B, then R₁=R₄=H; (3) when R_a=R_b=H, then R₁=-OCH₃; and (4) when R_a and R_b taken together are A, and R₁=H, R₃ is not NCH₃

CH₃; stereo-chemical isomers thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical composition of this invention may be administered to warm-blooded animals to inhibit myosin light chain kinase, protein kinase C or tumor cell proliferation or to produce an anti-hypertensive effect or an anti-inflammation effect.

The present invention still further provides a method of treating a warm-blooded animal afflicted by hypertension, which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by formula I sufficient to treat hypertension or a pharmaceutical composition thereof. The present invention further provides a method of treating inflammation in a warm-blooded animal which comprising administering tα said animal an anti-inflammatory effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.

The compounds of this invention are novel

indolocarbazoles which are isolated. along with N-acetylstaurosporine and known indolocarbazoles such as staurosporine from an antibiotic complex produced by cultivating a strain of Saccharothrix

aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa subsp. nov, SCC 1951 , having the identifying characteristics of ATCC 53856 in a pH and temperature controlled aqueous nutrient medium having assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen under controlled submerged aerobic conditions until a composition of matter having substantial inhibition at myosin light chain kinase ("MLCK") activity is produced.

This invention also provides a process for producing th e indolocarbazole complex of this invention which comprises cultivating an antibiotic complex producing strain of Saccharathrix

aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa subsp. nov. ATCC 53856 in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen, under submerged aerobic conditions until substantial inhibition of MLCK activity is imparted to said medium and isolating said complex therefrom.

The preferred culture for producing a compound of formula I and the indolocarbazole complex containing the

indolocarbazoles of formula I is a biologically pure culture of the microorganisms Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa subsp. nov having the identifying characteristics of ATCC 53856, said culture being capable of producing an indolocarbazole complex in a

recoverable quantity upon fermentation, under aerobic conditions in an aqueous medium containing assimilable sources of nitrogen and carbon. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The indolocarbazole compounds of this invention were isolated trom an imdolocabazole complex obtained from a culture broth produced by a fermentation under controlled conditions of a biologically pure culture of the microorganism, Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes suhsp-copiosa subsp nov. SCC 1951,.ATCC 53856.

A viable culture of this microorganism has been deposited on January 17, 1989 in the collection of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Rockville, Md., where it has been assigned accession num ber ATCC 53856 and found viable on January 23, 1989.

DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCING STRAIN

GENERAL METHODS

Source: materials used for these studies were frozen

(-80°C) preparations of pure cultures of the microorganism of this invention. Inoculum for the biochemical and physiological tests was prepared by adding 1.0 mL of thawed culture suspension to 10 mL of clear broth in a testrtube which was placed on a rotary shaker (300 rpm) at 28-30°C for 3 to 5 days. The culture was harvested by centrifugation and washed three times with distilled water. The final pellet was resuspended in distilled water to 4 times the packed cell volume.

Incubation temperature for the biochemical and physiological tests was 28°C. Readings of the results were made at various times up to 21 days for the plate media. Most of the tubed media were read at weekly intervals for 4 to 6 weeks.

MORPHOLOGY

Morphological observations were made on plates of water agar, soil extract agar, glucose-yeast extract agar, nutrient agar and ATCC medium 172. Plates were incubated at 28°C and observed for 2 to 4 weeks.

Strain SCC 1951 was isolated from a soil collected in Spain and is a filamentous organism that forms a well developed, moderately branching substrate mycelium with hyphae approximately 0.4 μm to 0.6 μm in diameter. The vegetative mycelium fragments into coccoid to bacillary elements.

The aerial mycelium consists of very long, sparsely branched hyphae which completely fragment into spores. The spores are smooth walled, cyclindrical and irregular in size (approximately 0.6 - 0.7 μm wide and 0.9 - 4.8 μm long). The spore chains are straight to irregularly curved. A few short spore chains of less than 50 spores are usually present but most spore chains contain 50 to 100 spores or more. On many media characteristic clumps of interwoven aerial hyphae or "aerial colonies" are readily observed. No motile elements were present in either the vegetative or aerial mycelium.

CHEMOTAXONOMY

Purified cell wall preparations, of SCC 1951 analyzed by the method of Becker [Becker et al., Appl., Microbial.12, 421-423 (1964)] contain the meso-isomer of 2,-6-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, glutamic acid, glucosamine, muramic acid and galactose (Type III). Whole-cell hydrolysates analyzediby the method of Lechevalier |Lechevalier, M.P., J. Lab. Clin. Med. 71 , 934-944 (1968)] contain gatactose, glucose, mannose, ribose, rhamnose and a trace of madurose. The

phospholipids present are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphatidylethanolamine acylated to both hydroxy and branched chain fatty acids and a minor unknown (Type PII). [Lechevalier et al., Biochem. System. Ecol. 5. 249-260

(1977)]. No mycolates are present. The mole % guanine plus cytosine of the DNA is 71.2% (Tm).

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The toxonomic procedures were those cited by Gordon [Gordon, R.E., J. Gen. Microbiol. 45: 355-364 (1966)], Luedemann and Brodsky, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1964, p. 47-52 (1965)] and Horan and Brodsky [Horan and Brodsky, Int. J. Syst. Bacterial., 32: 195- 200 (1982)]. Physiological characteristics for SCC 1951 are presented in Table I. Acid production for SCC 1951 from carbohydrates is shown in Table IL MACROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION OF SCC 1951

All plates were incubated. at 28°C and observed at intervals up to 28 days. The common names for the colors were chosen after comparison with color chips from the ISCC-NBS Centroid Colour Charts, or the Methuen Handbook of Color (Eyre Methuen, London, 1981). The substrate mycelium of SCC 1951 varies from cream to orange yellow to dark yellow brown to brownish black. The aeriat mycelium is usually white and tends to be thin. On Czapek sucrose nitrate agar, the white aerial mycelium turns yellow as it ages and:

becomes moist. The sofuble pigments produced vary from yellow to brownish orange to yellow brown. On the carbon: utilizalion m edium ISP

9 with trehalose, a reddish orange soluble pigment is present at 7 days. This pigment darkens to brownish orange at 2 to 3 weeks. Results are presented in Table II I. PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SCC 1951

Growth for Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa SCC 1951 , ATCC 53856 occurs at temperatures in the range of about

10 to 40°C on yeast extract-glucose agar. The optumum growth temperature is about 30°C to 35°C. Variable growth occurs at 42°C; no growth was observed at 45°C. Other physiological properties for the strain SCC 1951 are shown in Table I. Carbon utilization results are summarized in Table II.

On the basis of the above morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, SCC 1951 was placed in the genus Saccharothrix. The description of SCC 1951 was compared with the descriptions of those Saccharothrix species listed on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names or found in the patent literature: Saccharothrix australiensis. S. espanaensis., and S. aerocolonigenes.

SCC 1951 is easily differentiated from S. australiensis and S. espanaensis. S. australiensis produces melanin, fails to grow on ISP 9 with any carbon source and does not hydrolyze starch or

hypoxanthine or produce phosphatase. S. epanaensis has a Type PIV phospholipid pattern, strongly hydrolyzes adenine, does not hydroiyze tyrosine and does not produce acid from i-inositol, lactose, mannitol, or melibiose.

The description of SCC 1951 , however, closely resembles that of S. aerocolonigenes and SCC 1951 was compared directly with S. aerocolonigenes ATCC 23870, the type strain. SCC 1951 differs from ATCC 23870 in producing acid from erythritol and destroying the cttrorπophore in phenol reef. SCC 1951 also produces a reddish orange to brownish orange soluble pigment on carbon utilization medium ISP 9 with trehalose, galactose or ribose as the carbon source. These pigments were never observed on the ATCC 23870 plates.

In a survey of 14 strains of Saccharothrix (Nocardia) aerocolonioenes. includingthe type culture of the species, Gordon et. al. (J. Gen. Microbiol. 109: 69-78, 1978) found that none produced acid from erythritol. Strain SCCT951 is a strorιg producar of acid from erythritol. We, therefore, consider SCC 1951 to be a new subspecies at Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes for which we propose the name

Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa in reference to the large number of indolocarbazoles produced by this strain.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE COMPOUNDS OF THIS INVENTION

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a Ca²⁺- and phospholipid- dependent protein kinase involved in mediating a wide variety of cellular responses to growth factors, hormones, oncogenes and other

modulators of growth control. Numerous studies have indicated that the enzyme plays a central role in signal transduction and tumor promotion and that this control may occur through one arm of the

phosphatidylinositol second messenger system. G.M. Housey et al. (Cell., (1988), Vol. 52, pp. 343-354) have recently shown that the overexpression of a full-length form of PKC (β1) causes dramatic morphologic and phenotypic changes in fibroblast cell lines consistent with transformation. These studies underscore the critical role of PKC in growth control and tumorigenesis. K. Tamaski et al., [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., (1986), Vol. 135, pp. 397-402] and H. Kase et al.,

[(1987), ibid. Vol. 142, p. 436-440] disclose that staurosporine and related indolocarbazoles, K252a, and K252b are inhibitory to PKC (from rats' brains) with good potency, in the nanomoiar range. Staurosporine has also been shown to inhibit the growth of cells at concentrations which correlate with in vitro PKC inhibition and to have antitumor activity in-vivo.

Indolocarbazoles such as staurosporine have high potency and thus are useful for biological studies but they have limited selectivity against protein kinases. H. Nako et al. [J. Antibiot., (1987) Vol. 40. pp. 706-708] disclose that staurosporine, for example, will inhibit cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and p60v-src tyrosine kinase with similar potencies.

N-acetylstaurosporines is a potent inhibitor of PKC with increased selectivity compared to staurosporine as evidenced by comparison of inhibition of PKC to that of MLCK. Staurosporine and K- 252a have nanomolar potencies with MLCK to PKC ratios of 1.2 and 1.3 respectively. N-aoetytstaurasporine also ex hibits selective inhibition of MLCK and PKC with IC₅₀'s in the nanomolar range and has a MLCK to PKC ratio of 4.7. The PKC was partially purified fro m rat brain and assayed in the presence of its activators: Ca²⁺; phosphatidyserine and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol. Histone lll-S was used as phosphate acceptor. The MLCK was native enzyme from chicken gizzard fully activated by calmσdulin. Kemptamide was usedas phosphate acceptor. The compounds with good potency for PKC inhibition as well as selectivity of PKC inhibition relative to other protein kinases indicate in vivo utility as potential antitumor agents.

The compounds of this invention are potent inhibitors of PKC with increased selectivity compared to staurosporine as evidenced by comparison of inhibition of PKC to that of MLCK. Staurosporine and K-252a have nanomolar potencies with MLCK to PKC ratios of 1.2 and 1.3 respectively. The compounds of this invention exhibit selective inhibition of MLCK with IC₅₀'s in the range of 138 to > 1000 nM and PKC with IC₅₀'s in the range of 19 to 854 nM and MLCK to PKC ratios 1.2 to 18.8. The PKC was partially purified from rat brain and assayed in the presence of its activators: Ca²⁺, phosphatidylserine and 1-oleoyl-2- acetylglycerol. Histone lll-S was used as phosphate acceptor. The MLCK was native enzyme from chicken gizzard fully activated by calmodulin. Kemptamide was used as phosphate acceptor. The compounds with good potency for PKC inhibition as well as selectivity of PKC inhibition relative to other protein kinases indicate in vivo utility as potential antitumor agents.

In agreement with the in vitro kinase activity, the compounds of this invention inhibited (a) serotonin release in human platelets which were prelabelled with [³H] serotonin. Serotonin release from human platelets (IC₅₀ ranged from 0.95 to >50 μM) was measured following stimulation for one min with various doses of thrombin or at various times following addition of 1 unit/ml of thrombin. [T. Tohmatsu et al. Thrombosis Research, (1987), Vol. 47, pp. 25-35], (b) phorbot ester induced c-fos expression in cultured mouse BALB/C 3T3 cells which were exposed to the compounds of this invention for 20 hours prior to serum stimulation. The IC₅₀'s ranged from 0.6 μM to 5.4 μM. [T.

Maniatio et al., "Molecular. Cloning: A Laboratory Manual" (1982), Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.,] and (c) superoxider retease in human neutrophils which were stimulated with either the chemotactic peptide. f-met-leu-phe (fMLP) or the phorbol ester, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA).

Superoxide release (IC₅₀ for fMLP ranged from 0.1 to 9 μM and IC₅₀ for PMA ranged from 0.2. to 5 μM) was measured 15 min after stimulation as superoxide dismutase-inhibitabie reduction of cytochrome c. [D.P. Clifford and J.E. Repine, "Methods in Enzymology", (1984), Vol. 105, p. 393 [51].]

The antibiotic complex of this invention as well as the individual indolocarbazoles of this invention isolated therefrom were shown to be myosin light chain kinase inhibitors and phosphodiesterase inhibitors and as such have utilation in treating cardiovascular disorders.

H. Kase et al. J. Antibiot. [(1986) Vol.39, PP. 1059-65] disclosed that the indolocarbazole, K-252a lowers blood pressure in SHR and DOC-rats. The indolocarbazoles of this invention lower blood pressure and thus the compounds of this invention exhibit

pharmacological activity against cardiovascular disorders and have potent antihypertensive activity.

The compounds of this invention exhibit antimicrobial properties and like K-252 indolocarbazoles exhibit diuretic properties. THERAPEUTIC USES

The compounds of this invention exhibit selective inhibition of MLCK and PKC and thus exhibit anti-proliferation activity against tumors cells.

Thus, in another aspect, the present invention also provides a method of inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, which comprises contacting said tumor ceils with an anti-tumor cell proliferation effective amount of a compound of this invention represented by formula I or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.

In another aspect, the present invention also provides a. method of treating a warm-blooded animal afflicted by hypertension which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by formula I sufficient to treat hypertension, or apharmaceutrcal com position of a com pound represented by formula I.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a warm-blooded animal afflicted with diseases wherein the inhibition of protein kinase C is of importance which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by formula I or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.

D.P. Clifford and J.E. Repine, supra, disclose that inhibition of superoxide indicates anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds of this invention inhibited superoxide release in human neutrophils which had been stimulated with either fMLP (IC₅₀ in the range = 0.1 to 9 μM) or PMA (IC₅₀ in the range = 0.2 to 5 μM).

Thus, the present invention provides a method of treating inflammation (arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, gout as well as other inflammatory conditions) in a warm-blooded animal by administering to such an animal an anti-inflammatory effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of this invention represented by formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in racemic or optically active form and an inert pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Typical suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts are acid addition salts formed by adding to the compounds of this invention an equivalent of a mineral acid such as HCl, HF, HNO₃, H₂SO₄ or H₃PO₄ or an organic acid, such as acetic, propionic, oxalic, valeric, oleic, palmitic, stearic, lauric, benzole, lactic, para-toluenesulfonic, methane sulfonic, citric, maleic, fumaric, succinic and the like.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be made up by combining the compounds of this invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof with any suitable, i.e., inert pharmaceutical carrier or diluent and administered orally, parentally or topically in a variety of formulations.

Examples of suitable pharmaceutical co mpositions include solid compositions for oral administration such as tablets, capsules, pills, powders and granules, liquid compositions for oral administration such as solutions, suspensions or emulsions. They may also be

manufactured in the form of sterile solid co mpositions which can be dissolved in sterile water, physiological saline or some other sterile injectable medium immediately before use.

It will be appreciated that the actual preferred dosages of the compounds of this invention or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof will vary according to the particular compound being used, the particular composition formulated, the mode of application and the particular situs, host and disease being treated. Many factors that modify the action of the drug will be taken into account by the attending clinician, e.g. age, body weight, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, condition of the host, drug combinations, reaction sensitivities and severity of the disease. Administration can be carried out

continuously or periodically within the maximum tolerated dose. Optimal application rates for a given set of conditions can be readily ascertained by the attending clinician using conventional dosage determination tests The following examples illustrate the claimed invention.

GENERAL METHODS

Solvents, Reagents and Instruments

Solvent used for column chromatography, and high pressure liquid chromatography ("HLPC") were HPLC grade and not redistilled. Water refers to in-house deionized water passed through a Millipore Milli-Q purification system. The CHP-20P resin was purchased from Mitsubishi. Thin layer chromatography was carried out on

Whatman LK6 DF silica gel plates (20 x 20 cm). Compounds were visualized as a purple spots with 366 nm UV light or by using

anisaldehyde spray reagent High pressure. liquid chromatography was carried out using Waters model 510 HPLC pumps controlled by a Waters automated gradient controller: Compounds were monitored at 300 nm using a Hewlett Packard 1040A photodiode array ultraviolet (UV) detector. Ultraviolet spectra were measured on the Hewlett Packard 1040A photodiode array detector or on a Hewlett Packard 8450A UV/Vis spectrophotometer; infrared spectra were measured on a Nicolet 10-MX instrument. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were measured on a Varian 400 instrument at 400 and 100 mHz, respectively.

Assignments were made by comparison with published data. Fast atom bombardment-mass spectra (FAB-MS) were measured on a VG-ZAB-SE double focusing mass spectrometer.

Analytical HPLC

Analytical HPLC was carried out on a YMC C₁₈ reverse phase column (120 A, 5μ, 4.6 x 150 mm) using a linear gradient of 30- 40% aqueous acetonitrile (aq.ACN) over 22 minutes followed by 40% aq.ACN for 8 minutes (flow rate, 1 mL/min). A photodiode arrray-UV detector monitoring at 300 and 220 nm was used to observe the indolocarbazoles. EXAMPLE 1

The indolocarbazoles of this invention were isolated from an indolocarbazole complex which was produced by fermentation of a biologically pure culture of Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes subsp.

copiosa subsp. nov. SCC 1951 , ATCC 53856.

A. Fermentation

The fermentation, which produces the complex, was started using two or more inoculum stages. Medium for the inoculum stages are listed below. The inoculum and fermentation stages were conducted at a pH from about 6.4 to about 8.5, preferably about 7.0 for the inoculum stage and 7.5 for the fermentation stage.

A temperature of about 27°C to 35°C was used to grow the inoculum stages, and to conduct the fermentation stage a temperature of about 27°C-35ºC: was used

The media employed were sterilized and cooled prior to inoculation and fermentation in the examples listed below.

Stock cultures were stored as frozen whole broths at subzero temperatures.

Inoculum Preparation

(First Stage)

Inoculum preparation was carried out in two stages for large scale fermentations (10L to 100L). Suitable nutrients for preparing the inocula are listed below:

Inoculum Medium

Ingredient g/L

Beef extract 3.0

Tryptone 5.0

Yeast extract 5.0

Cerelose 1.0

Potato starch 24.0 Calcium carbonate 2.0

Tap water 1 L

Two and a half milliliters of freshly-thawed whole broth were used to inoculate 70 mL of the above-listed inoculum medium in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks. The flasks were incubated at 30°C for 48 hours on a shaker at 300 rpm and having a 2 inch throw.

Second Inoculum Preparation

Twelve 2L Erlenmeyer flasks containing 500 mL of sterile inoculum medium were inoculated using a 5% inoculum from the first stage. The procedure for the first inoculum stage was followed.

Production (fermentation) Stage The following fermentation medium has been found to produce the indolocarbazole complex:

Fermentation Medium

Ingredient g/L

Soluble starch 15.0

Sucrose 5.0

Dextrose 5.0

Soy Peptone. 7.5

Corn steep liquor 5.0 mL

K₂HPO₄ 1.5

NaCI 0.5

Mineral Solution *

Tap water 1L

Post sterilization pH 7.0 ^* 10 mL of a mineral solution containing the following salts in a final concentration (mg/L) of. -ZnSO₄.7H₂O, (28); ferrica mm oniu m citrate, (27.8); CuSO₄.6H₂O, (1.25); MnSO₄.H₂O, (10); CoCl₂.6H₂O, (1 ); Na₂B₄O7.H₂O, (0.88); Na₂Mo0₄.2H₂O, (0.5). Five liters of the second stage inoculu m were used to inoculate 100L of the fermentation medium. The fermentation was conducted for 66 hours at 30°C in a 150L NBS Fermatron with agitation and aeration at 270 rpm and 1.8 cfm, respectively.

No pH adjustment was made to the fermentation but the pH ranged from 6.8 to 7.5 over the course of the 66 hour fermentation.

Production of the indolocarbazole complex was monitored over time by HPLC analysis of ethyl acetate extracts of the complex.

B. Isolation of Indolocarbazole Complex and Separation of the

Indolocarbazoles

The culture produced small quantities of a very complex mixture of indolocarbazoles. In an analytical HPLC chromatogram of a partially purified sample of the complex mixture, about 20

indolocarbazole components including N-acetyl staurosporine were detected. The isolation of the indolocarbazole complex was accompllshed through a series of silica gel and reverse-phase chromatographies. The individual components were then obtained using size exclusion and reverse-phase semi-preparative HPLC. An exemplary procedure followed for various batch sizes is given hereinbelow.

The procedure for a 1000L batch is described. 1000L of the fermentation broth was extracted two times with equal volumes of ethyl acetate. The organic solutions were combined and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The resulting oil was then placed on a 25L silica gel column. The column was eiuted with 200L (4X50L) of a 10% methanol in dichloromethane solution followed by 50L of a 1 :1 mixture of methanol and dichloromethane. The active fractions, which were detected by analytical HPLC and-exhibited inhibition, of myosin light chain kinase, were combined and the solvent was removed. The oil was then subjected to a second silica gel column (6-7L) using 5% methanol in dichloromethane (v/v) as eluant; 1L cuts were taken and analyzed as above. The active fractions were then passed through a CHP-20P (IL) reverse-phase column and then eluted with 30, 50, 75 and 100% aq. ACN, the activity was found in the 50 and 75% fractions. The material in the active fractions were subjected to chromatography using a second CHP-20P column using a continuous gradient of 30 to 100% aqueous acetonitrile as solvent to produce partially purified material. The isolation of 2-3 component mixtures were achieved using LH-20 chromatography with 1 :1 dichloromethane/acetcnitrile as solvent.

Twenty-five mL fractions were collected and assayed by analytical

HPLC. The final step in purification was semi-preparative HPLC which was carried out on a YMC, C₁₈ reverse-phase column (15μ, 120 A, 30 x 500 mm) using a 30-40% aqueous acetonitrile gradient (UV at 375 nm, 35 mL/min flow rate). From 1000L batches, the indolocarbazole components (150 mg total) were isolated varying in weight from 1-30 mg including about 20 mg of N-acetyl-staurosporine.

The structures for the indolocarbazoles of this invention were determined by analysis of the following physiochemical data including: UV, MS (high resolution as well as FAB-MS), ¹H and ¹³C NMR and IR spectra and are listed hereinafter as Examples 2-16.

EXAMPLE 2

FAB-MS; 484 (M+H), 466 (-H₂O), 440, 343, 295, 242.

MOLECULAR FORHULA: C₂₇H₂₁N₃O₆

UV (MEOH); 207 (35,000), 230 (31,000), 253 (26,000), 270 (sh, 27,000), 281

(sh, 31,000), 292 (55,000), 299 (56,000), 337 (11,000) 353

(10,000), 370 (11,000)

IR (KBR): 3400, 1760, 1720, 1680, 1630, 1580, 1460, 1390, 1360, 1315, 1290,

1270, 1195, 1130, 1070, 740

¹H NMR: 9.14 (d, 1H, J= 8, H-4), 8.86 (s, 1H, NH), 8.39 (d, 1H, J= 9, H-8),

(DMSO) 7.92 (d, 1H, J=8.3 , H-11), 7.89 (d, 1H, J= 8Hz, H-1), 7.50 (t, 1H,

J=8), 7.47 (t, 1H, J=8, H-10), 7.31 (t, 1H, J= 8, H-9), 7.27 (t, 1H, J= 8, H-3), 7.12 (dd, 1H, J=7, 4.5, H-6'), 6.52 (d, 1H, J=20, 7-OH), 6.42 (d, 1H, J=20, H-7), 6.36 (s, 1H, OH), 3.92 (s, 3H, COOCH₃), 3.40 (dd, 1H, J=14, 8, H_β-5'), 2.02 (dd, J=14, 4.5, H_α-5), 2.16 (s, 3H, 2'-Me)

¹³ C NMR; 172.8, 170.2, 140.1, 137.0, 135.2, 130.0, 128.6, 125.6, 125.4, (DMSO) 125.1, 124.6, 123.8, 122.9, 122.4, 120.1, 119.6, 118.8(?), 115.5,

115.4, 114.6, 109.1, 99.3, 84.9, 78.5, 52.6, 42.4, 22.8 EXAMPLE 3

FAB-MS; 470 (M+H)⁺, 452, 425, 365, 337, 310, 281, 242

MOLECULAR FORMULA; C₂₇H₂₃N₃O₅

UV MEOH): 207 (26,000), 239 (19,000), 292 (sh, 24,000}, 301 (30,000), 330

(7,000), 358 (6,000), 375 (6,000)

IR (KBR); 3400, 1680, 1455, 1350, 1315, 1115, 1020, 745

¹H NMR: 9.20 (d, 1H, J=8, H-4), 8.70 (s, 1H, NH), 8.34 (d, 1H, J=8, H-8),

7.98 (d, 1H, J=8, H-11), 7.58 (d, 1H, J=8, H-1), 7.46 (t, 1H, J= 7.5, H-2), 7.38 (t, 1H, J=7.8, H-10), 7.28 (t, 1H, J=7.6, H-3), 7.26 (t, 1H, J=8, H-9), 6.76 (d, 1H, J-5.5, H-6'), 7.40 (d, 1H, J=10, 7-OH), 7.32 (d, 1H, J=10, H-7), 4.26 (m, 1H), 4.18 (d, 1H, J=3, OH), 3.80 (d, 1H, J=2.5, H-3'), 3.41 (s, 3H, OMe), 2.58 (m, 1H, H_β-5), 2.41 (m, 1H, H_α-5), 2.30 (s, 1H, 2'-Me)

¹³ C NMR: 170.6, 139.8, 136.3, 134.2, 129.6, 125.3, 124.9, 124.2, 123.4,

122.4, 122.3, 119.2, 119.0, 117.8, 115.4, 114.4, 113.6, 108.6, 90.7, 82.2, 79.4, 78.4, 58.7, 56.3, 33.7, 29.8 EXAMPLE 4

OH

FAB-MS: 454 (M+H) , 366 , 323 , 311, 295

HR-MS EXACT MASS : (M+H)⁺ FOUND: 454.1740 CALCULATED: 454.1769

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C_{2 7} H_{2 3} N₃ O₄

UV (MEOH): 205, (30,000), 238 (sh, 20,000), 244 (sh, 19,000) 265 (sh, 19000),

292 (40,000), 321(8,000), 336 (9,000), 355 (7,000), 373 (8,000)

IR (KBR): 3400, 3280, 1685, 1630, 1585, 1360, 1350, 1275, 1230, 1150, 1110,

1020, 1010, 740

1 H NMR: 9.34 (d, 1H, J=8.0, H-4), 7.96 (d, 1H, J=7.8), 7.88 (d, 1H,

(CDCl₃) J=7.3), 7.46 (t, 1H, J=7.1), 7.41 (t, 1H, J=7.1), 7.40 (t, 1H,

J=7.3), 7.35 (t, 1H, J=7.4), 7.20 (d, 1H, J=7.8), 6.57 (d, 1H, J=5.13, H-6'), 6.17 (s, 1H, NH), 4.73 (AB, J=17, H₂-7), 4.43 (m, 1H, H-4'), 3.73 (d, 1H, J=2.9, H-3'), 3.60 (s, 3H, 3'-OMe), 2.80 (dd, 1H, J=14.6, 3, H_β-5'), 2.51 (m, 1H, H_α-5'), 2.34 (s, 3H, 2'-Me), 2.29 (s, 1H, OH)

¹³ C NMR: 172.1, 139.6, 131.9, 129.4, 126.1, 125.4, 124.6, 124.0, 123.8,

122.5, 120.5, 119.5, 118.8, 118.5, 115.6, 114.0, 113.4, 108.5, 90.8, 82.2, 79.4, 58.7, 56.4, 45.3, 33.8, 29.8 EXAMPLE 5

FAB-MS: 456 (M+H)⁺, 438 (-H₂O), 391, 309

HR-MS EXTRACT MASS: (M+H)⁺ FOUND: 456.1532 CALCULATED: 456.1559

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₆H₂₁N₃O₅

UV (MEOH): 208 (24,000), 239 (15,000), 292 (sh, 20,000), 301 (27,000)

340 (sh, 4,000), 358 (4,000), 376 (4,000)

IR (KBR): 3400, 1690, 1640, 1580, 1450, 1350, 1320, 1150, 1120, 1025, 750 ¹H NMR: 9.23 (d, 1H, J=7.6, H-4), 8.74 (s, 1H, NH), 8.37 (d, 1H,

(DMSO) J=7.0), 8.07 (d, 1H, J=7.5), 7.59 (d, 1H, J=8.3), 7.46 (t, 1H,

J=8.1, 7.1), 7.38 (t, 1H, J=8.4, 7.1), 7.27 (t, 1H, J=8.0, 7.1),

7.24 (t, 1H, J=8.3, 7.1), 6.74 (d, 1H, J=4.9, H-6'), 6.43 (d, 1H, J=10.5, 7-OH), 6.36, (d, 1H, J=10.5 , H-7), 5.45 (d, 1H, J=7.1, H-3'), 4.10 (m, 2H, OH), 3.96 (m, 1H, H-4'), 2.63 (1H, m, H-5'), 2.40 (dd, 1H, H-5'), 2.27 (s, 3H, 2'-Me)

¹³ C NMR: 170.6, 140.1, 136.4, 134.2, 129.7, 126.9, 125.2, 124.9, 124.2, (DMSO) 123.4, 122.4, 119.2, 118.9, 118.0, 117.8, 115.6, 114.5, 113.6,

108.5, 92.2, 79.3, 78.4, 63.9, 48.5, 34.2, 29.7 EXAMPLE 6

FAB-MS: 511 (M+H)⁺ , 493 , 364, 299

HR-MS EXACT MASS: (M+H)⁺ FOUND: 511.2000 CALCULATED: 511.1981

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₉H₂₆N₄O₅

UV (MEOH); 206 (40,000), 238 (29,000), 293 (sh, 43000), 300 (54,000), 325 (sh,

10,000), 339 (sh, 9,000), 357 (8,000), 374 (9,000)

IR (KBR) 3390, 3360, 1680, 1635, 1580, 1450, 1340, 1320, 1120, 1020, 740 ¹H NMR: 8.7 (d, 1H, J=8.0, H-4), 8.64 (d, 1H, J=7.0, H-8), 7.68 (d, 1H,

(CDCI₃) J=7.4 Hz, 7.4 (t, 1H, J=7.0), 7.35 (t, 1H, J=7.6), 6.90 (d, J=3.9,

2H), 6.55-6.7 (m, 4H), 4.7 (d, 1H, J=6.1, H NCOCH₃), 4.38 (m, 1H, H-4'), 3.7 (d, 1H, J=4.3, H-3'), 3.08 (s, 3H, -OCH₃), 2.75 (1H, H-5'), 2.47 (s, 3H, CH₃), 2.38 (m, 1H, H-5'), 0.6 (s, 3H, COCH₃)¹³ C NMR; 173.1, 169.9, 139.a, 135.8, 133.7, 128.0, 125.6, 125.4, 125.1 (CDCl₃) 124.8, 123.9, 123.7, 122.1, 120.6, 120.0, 117.7, 116.1, 114.9,

114.2, 107.2, 90.8, 81.5, 80.2, 57.3, 40.5, 30.3, 29.9, 22.2 EXAMPLE 7

FAB-MS: 525 (M+H)⁺, 507, 410, 393, 364, 337

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₃₀H₂₈N₄O₅

UV (MEOH); 206 (31,000), 238 (21,000), 293 (sh, 31,500), 300 (37,000), 340

(6,600), 356 (6,000), 374 (6,000)

IR (KBR): 3400, 1690, 1660, 1460, 1350, 1320, 1120,, 1020, 740

¹H NMR: 8.8, (d, 1H, J=8.1, H-4), 8.62 (d, 1H, J=7.8, H-8), 7.51 (d, 1H,

(CDCl₃) J=7.8), 7.4 (td, 1H, J=8.0 1.4), 7.35 (dd, 1H, J=8.0,1.0), 7.04 (t,

1H, J=7.6), 6.8 (d, 1H, J-8.1, H-1), 6.7 (brs, 1H, NH), 6.72 (d, 1H, J=7.0, H-6'), 6.51 (dd, 1H, J=12.4, 1.0, H-7), 5.32 (d, 1H, J=12.8, 7-OH), 4.93 (m, 1H, J=13.5, 1.2, H-4'), 3.7 (s, 1H, H-3'), 2.7 (s, 3H, OMe), 2.4 (s, 3H, Me), 2.4 (H-5'), 2.27 (ddd, 1H, J=12.9, 12.9, 3.5, H-5'), 2.1 (s, 3H, NCH₃), 1.6 (s, 3H, NCOCH₃) 1³ C NMR; 170.3, 168.8, 138.8, 136.5, 134.5, 129.3, 126.1, 125.4, 125.0, (DMSO) 123.5, 123.3, 122.3, 119.9, 119.4, 115.9, 114.9, 114.4, 108.8,

93.2, 81.7, 81.2, 78.4, 60.1, 43.7, 29.1, 28.8 EXAMPLE 8

FAB-MS: 440 (M+H)⁺ , 366, 311, 293, 291

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C_{2 6} H_{2 1} N₃ O₄

UV (MEOH): 206 (30,000), 238 (22,000), 263 (sh, 20,000), 233 (40,000) 319

(11,000), 337 (10,000), 357 (7,000), 373 (8,000)

IR (KBR): 3410, 1660, 1450, 1350, 1320, 1150, 1110, 1010, 740

¹H NMR: 9.38 (d, 1H, J=7.4 Hz, H-4), 8.50 (brs, 1H, NH), 8.09 (d, 1H,

J=8.5), 7.95 (d, 1H, J=6.9), 7.59 (d, 1H, J=8.1), 7.45 (td, 1H, J=7.7, 1.0), 7.40 (td, 1H, J=8.5, 1.0), 7.27 (td, 2H, J=7.5), 6.76 (d, 1H, J=5.1, H-6'), 5.45 (d, 1H, J=7.1, OH), 4.93 (AB, 2H, J=17 Hz, H-7), 4.1 (m, 2H), 3.98 (m, 1H), 2.62 (m, 1H, J=15, H-5'), 2.38 (m, 1H, J=15, 3, H-5'), 2.3 (s, 3H, 2'-Me)

1³C NMR: 172.1, 139.8, 136.0, 132.0, 129.4, 126.2, 125.4,125.4, 124.6,

124.0, 123.8, 122.5, 120.6, 119.5, 118.8, 118.5, 115.7, 114.0, 108.4, 92.2, 79.2, 63.9, 57.6, 45.3, 34.3, 29.6 EXAMPLE 9

FAB-MS: 495 (M +H)⁺ , 394, 362, 348, 328

HR-MS EXACT MASS : (M+H) FOUND: 495.1996 CALCULATED : 495.2032

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₉ H₂₆ N₄ O₄

UV (MEOH): 204 (34,000), 237 (sh, 25,000), 243 (25,000), 264 (sh, 25000), 291

(54,000), 319 (12,000), 334 (14,000), 354 (9,000), 372 (10,000,

IR (KBR): 3420, 3320, 1680, 1635 (sh), 1455, 1340, 1315, 1270, 1225, 1120,

1020, 760, 740

1H NMR: 9.4 (d, 1H, J=7.9 Hz, H-4), 7.98 (d, 1H, J=8.6), 7.94 (d, 1H,

(CDCl₃) J=8.8), 7.50 (td, 1H, J=6.9, 1,2), 7.48 (td, 1H, J-7.0, 1.4), 7.39

(td, 2H, J=7.9, 1.0), 7.27 (d, 1H, J=8.3), 6.60 (d, 1H, J=4.4, H-6'), 6.50 (s, 1H, NH), 5.17 (d, 1H, J=6.1, N-H), 5.05 (AB, 2H, H₂-7), 4.60 (m, 1H, H-4'), 3.91 (d, 1H, J=4.4, H-3'), 3.41 (s, 3H, 3'-OMe), 3.09 (ddd, 1H, J=15, 3.9, 1.2, H-5'), 2.53 (ddd, 1H, J=14.9, 5.6, 4.2, H-5') 2.38 (s, 3H, 2'-Me), 0.80 (s, 3H, COCH₃)

¹³C NMR: 173.3, 170.2, 140.0, 136.8, 132.2, 128.3, 126.6, 125.9, 125.3,

(CDCl₃) 125.0, 124.7, 123.2, 121.0, 120.9, 120.4, 119.4, 116.2, 115.6,

114.7, 107.6, 91.3, 81.3, 80.2, 57.2, 46.0, 40.6, 30.7, 29.8, 22.4 EXAMPLE 10

FAB-MS: 484 (M+H)⁺ , 452 (-MeOH) , 425, 396, 364, 336, 309, 231

HR-MS EXACT MASS: (M+H) FOUND: 484.1854 CALCULATED: 484.1872

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₈H_{2 6}N₃O₅

UV (MEOH) : 208 (29,000) , 239 (25,000), 232 (sh, 26,000), 301 (49,000) , 340

(75,000) , 359 (7,000) , 375 (8,000)

IR ( KBR) : 3390, 1690, 1680, 1650, 1630, 1450, 1350, 1325, 1115, 1090, 1055

745

1 H NMR: 9.21 (d, 1H, J=8.0, H-4), 8.93 (brs, 1H, NH), 8.22 (d, 1H, J=7.5, ( DMSO) H-8), 8.00 (d, 1H, J=8.5, H-11), 7.61 (d, 1H, J=8.2, H-1), 7.50 (t,

1H, J=7.3, H-2). 7.41 (t, 1H, J=7.3, H-10), 7.31 (t, 1H, J-7.4,

H-3), 7.27 (t, 1H, J-7.3, H-9), 6.78 (d, 1H, J-4.7, H-6'), 6.45

(brs, 1H, H-7), 4.27 (m, 1H, H-4'), 4.20 (d, 1H, J=2.9, OH), 3.83

(d, 1H, J=2.4, H-3'), 3.43 (s, 3H, 3'-OMe), 3.22 (s, 3H, 7-OMe),

2.60 (m, 1H, H-5'), 2.40 (m, 1H, H-5'), 2.31 (s, 3H, 2'-Me)

^{1 3} C NMR: 171.2, 140.0, 136.4, 130.3, 129.6, 127.2, 125.2, 125.1, 124.4,

(DMSO) 123.3, 122.2, 121.8, 119.4, 118.6, 115.6, 114.5, 113.8, 108.7,

90.8, 84.1, 82.2, 79.5, 58.6, 56.4, 151.0, 33.6, 29.8 EXAMPLE 11

FAB-MS: 342 (M+H)⁺ , 310, 283, 255

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C_{2 1} H_{1 5} N₃ O₂

UV (MEOH): 206 (24,000), 234 (23,000), 252 (sh, 33,500), 296 (45,600), 332

(8,000), 344 (6,500), 261 (4,700)

IR (KBR): 3250, 1670, 1650, 1580, 1450, 1405, 1290, 1020, 1000, 760 ¹H NMR: 11.0 (s, 1H, NH), 10.7 (s, 1H, NH), 9.26 (d, 1H, H-4) , 8,38 (d,

1H), 7.2 - 7.8 (m, 6H), 6.54 (s, 1H, H7), 3.20 (s, 3H, OMe)

¹³C NMR: 171.4, 139.4, 139.2, 131.3, 128.0, 126.3, 125,3, 125.2, 123.4,

122.4, 122.2, 122.0, 119.8, 119.1, 118.7, 115.1, 114.8, 111.7, 111.4, 84.2, 51.1

EXAMPLE 12

FAB-MS: 452 (M+H)⁺ , 368, 337, 311, 253

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₇H₂₁N₃O₄

UV (MEOH): 206 (27,000), 230 (21,000), 243 (sh, 19,000), 267 (sh, 21,000), 281

(sh, 30,000), 290 (44,000), 221 (sh, 9,000), 224 (11,000), 352

(8,000), 370 (9,000)

IR (KBR): 3410, 1740, 1690, 1670, 1630, 1460, 1450, 1310, 1270, 1145, 1125,

1110, 740

1H NMR: 9.42 (d, 1H, H-4), 7.90 (d, 1H), 7.65 (d, 1H), 7.2-7.6 (m, 5H, ar), 7.02 (d, 1H, H-5'), 6.5 (br s, 1H, NH), 4.97 (s, 2H, H₂-7),

4.30 (s, 1H), 3.75 (dd, 1H, H-4'), 3.45 (s, 3H, COOCH₃), 2.83 (d, H-4'), 2.34 (s, 3H, 2'-Me) EXAMPL E 13

FAB-MS : 484 (M+H)⁺ , 452 , 364 , 309 , 281 , 255

HR-MS EXACT MASS : (M+H) FOUND: 484 .1845 CALCULATED: 464.1972

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₈H₂₆N₃O₅

UV (MEOH): 207 (28,000) 239 (24,000), 292 (SH, 34,000), 201444,000), 336 (sh,

7,000), 357 (6,000), 376 (7,000)

1H NMR: 9.35 (d, 1H, J-7.6, H-4), 8.44 (d, 1H, J=7.8, H-8), 7.91 (d, 1H,

(CDCl₃) J-8.5, H-11), 7.51 (t, 1H, J=7.2), 7.45 (t, 1H, J-7.0), 7.36 (t,

1H, J-7.1), 7.32 (t, 1H, J=7.1), 7.26 (d, 1H, J=8.1, H-1), 6.59 (d, 1H, J=1.3 Hz, H-7), 6.57 (d, 1H, J=4.4, H-6'), 6.29 (s, 1H, NH), 4.39 (ro, 1H, H-4'), 3.72 (d, 1H, J-2.9, H-3'), 3.56 (s, 3H, 7-OMe), 3.05 (s, 3H, 3'-OMe), 2.76 (dd, 1H, J=15, 4, H-5'), 2.50 (m, 1H, H-5'), 2.34 (s, 3H, 2'-Me)

¹³ C NMR 171.7, 140.3, 137.0, 130.0, 129.8, 127.2, 126.6, 125.7, 124.8,

(CDCl₃) 124.1, 123.1, 122.8, 120.4, 120.2, 119.3, 115.6, 115.3, 107.3,

90.6, 84.1, 83.0, 79.3, 60.3, 57.4, 49.7, 33.3, 30.2 EXAMPLE 14

FAB-MS: 496 (M+H), 479, 364, 310, 255

UV (MEOH): 206 (27,500), 239 (20,000), 292 (sh, 25,000), 300 (31,000), 340

(5,000), 35a (4,400), 374 (5,000)

IR (KBR): 3410, 1690, 1640, 1520, 1455, 1350, 1320, 1025, 750

¹H NMR: 9.22 (d, 1H, H-4), 8.82 (s, 1H, NH), 8.42 (d, 1H, H-8), 7.95 (d,

1H, 7.62 (d, 1H), 7.48 (t, 1H) 7.40 (t, 1H), 7.30 (t, 1H), 7.23 (t, 1H), 6.87 (m, 1H), 6.82 (m, 1H), 6.45 (AB, 2Bh 5.79 (d, 1H), 4.4 (m, 1H), 4.2 (m, 1H), 3.17 (d, 1H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 1.43 (s, 3H).

EXAMPLE 15

FAB-MS: 470 (M+H)⁺, 452, 425, 382, 365, 337, 310, 283, 255

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C₂₇H₂₃N₃O₅

U V (MEOH): 207, 239, 292, 300, 330, 358, 375

1H NMR: 9.25 (d. 1 H), 8.33 (d, 1 H). 7.77 (d, 1 H)

(CDCI₃) 7.53 (t, 1 H), 7.3 (t, 2H). 7.2 (t, 1 H) 6.4 (d. 1 H), 6.3 (1 H),

6.29 (1H). 4.0 (d, 1H), 3.8 (d. 1H), 3.6 (1H). 3.53 (s. 3H)

2.3 (s, 3H), 2.2 (1 H), 1.8 (1 H) These indolocarbazole of the Example is probably a C-7 isomer of the indolocarbazole of Example 3. EXAMPLE 16

The following physiochemical data were obtained for N- acetylstaurosporine.

Molecular Formula: C₃₀H₂₈N₄O₄

Ultraviolet Spectrum λm ax (CH₃OH): observed maxima

(nm) and absorbitivities (in parenthesis): 206 (34,000), 237 (sh, 22,000), 243 (22,000), 267(sh, 22,000), 292 (49,000), 320 (9,000), 334 (12,000), 355 (5,000), 372 (9,000)

Infrared Spectrum: λ max (KBr): 3440, 3400, 1680,

1630, 1450, 1350, 1320, 1120, 750 cm^-1

¹H NMR 400 MH_Z Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum:

observed chemical shifts and pattern description, 5H(CDCI₃): 9.46 (d, 1 H, J=7.8 Hz, H-4), 7.90 (d. 1 H, J=7.7 Hz, H-1 ), 7.72 (d, 1 H, J=8.5 Hz, H- 8), 7.49 (t, 1 H, J=7 Hz), 7.45 (t, 1 H, J=8 Hz), 7.37 (t, 1 H, J=7.1 Hz), 7.34 (t, 1H, J=7.0 Hz), 7.25 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 6.71 (dd, 1H, J=6.8 Hz, 7.0, H-6'), 6.55 (s, 1 H, NH), 5.22 (ddd, 1 H, J=11.7, 7.6, 2 Hz, H-4'), 5.02 (s, 2H, H₂- 7), 4.01 (d, 1 H, J=2 Hz, H-3'), 2.85 (s, 3H, 3'-OMe), 2.57(ABX, H-5') 2.48 (s. 3H, Me), 2.47 (s, 3H, Me), 2.13 (s, 3H, Me) ¹³C NMR δ_C(CDCl₃): 173.2, 171.5, 138.7, 136.5, 132.4, 130.5, 126.8. 126.3, 125.4, 125.0, 124.7, 123.6, 121.5, 120.5, 120.1 , 119.2, 116.3, 114.5, 112.4. 107.6, 94.6, 84.8, 82.5, 60.4, 48.3, 45.9, 32.1 , 29.2, 22.5 Mass Spectra:

FAB-MS: 509 (M+H)+, 422, 392, 348, 310, 281

HR-MS EXACT MASS: (M+H)+ FOUND: 509.2179; CALCULATED: 509.2185

Staurosporine, also isolated from the indolocarabazole complex was acetylated. This synthetic N-acetyl stau rosporine material was determined to be identical to the N-acetylstaurosporine isolated from the complex as described hereinabove.

Based on the above data, the structural formula was determined to be that represented by formula I wherein R = CH₃.

Example 17

Preparation of N-Acetylstaurosporine

Synthetic N-acetylstaurosporine was prepared from staurosporine and a stoichiometric excess acetic anhydride in pyridine. The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature. The solvent was removed. The resulting solid was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer was washed with water then dried with anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed yielding N- acetylstaurosporine. Example 18

N-(C₃-C₁₀)alkanoyl staurosporine

The following N-substituted staurosporines may be prepared using the procedure of Example 2. N-propanoyl staurosporine

N-(2-methyiethanoyl staurosporine) N-butyl staurosporine

N-(3-methylpropanoyl)staurosporine N-(2,2-dimethylethanoyl)staurosporine

N-pentanoyl staurosporine N-hexanoyl staurosporine N-heptanoyl staurosporine N-octanoyl staurosporine N-nonanoyistaurosporine

N-decanoylstaurosporine and structural isomers thereof.

Claims

What is Claimed is: 1. A compound represented by the formula I

wherein R_a and R_b are each H or R_a and R_b taken together are

wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently H or OH or OCH₃ and R₃ is OH, NHCH₃, NCH₃COCH₃ or NHCOCH₃ and R₄ is OH or H, with the provisos that (1 ) when R_a and R_b taken together are A, and R₁ = H or OH, then R₃ is not NHCH₃;

(2) when R_a and R_b taken together are B, then R₁=R₄=H; (3) when R_a=R_b=H, then R₁=-OCH₃, and (4) when R_a and R_b taken together are A, and R₁=H, then R₃ is not NCH₃

CH₃ and stereochemical isomers thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

A compound of claim 1 wherein R₁ = H.

3. A compound of claim 1 wherein R_a and R_b taken together are A.

4. A compound of claim 3 wherein R₁=OH, R₂=OCH₃ and R₃=NCH₃ CH₃.

or wherein R₁=H, R₂=OCH₃ and R₃=OH; or wherein R₁=H, R₂=OH and R₃=OH; or wherein R₁=R₂=OCH₃ and R₃=OH; or wherein R₁=H, R₂=OCH₃ and

R₃=NH₃- -CH₃

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I useful in warm-blooded animals for inhibiting myosin light chain kinase or protein kinase C or tumor cell proliferation or for producing an anti-hypertensive effect or an anti-inflammation effect.

7. A method of treating a warm-blooded animal afflicted with a disease wherein the inhibition of protein kinase C is of importance which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.

8. A method of making a pharmaceutical composition useful in warm-blooded animals for inhibiting myosin light chain kinase or protein kinase C or tumor cell proliferation or for producing an anti- hypertensive effect or an anti-inflammation effect comprising admixing a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

9. A biologically pure culture of the microorganism

Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes subsp. copiosa subsp. nov., SCC 1951, having the identifying characteristics of ATCC 53856.

10. An indolocarbazole complex produced by cultivating a strain of Saccharothrix Aerocolonigenes subsp coprosa subsp nov. , SCC 1951 , having the identifying characteristics of ATCC 53856.