Iron-containing antibiotic produced by Actinomyces subtropicus: Gauze, Braznikova, Nov. Med. 23, 3 (1951). Used as the sulfate. Consists of six components, α, β, γ, δ1, δ2, ε, of which δ1 and δ2 are the main components. δ2 is the unstable, highly active albomycin A1; the other components are its degradation products: Braznikova et al., Biokhimiya 22, 111 (1959); Turkovà et al., Antibiotiki 7, 878 (1962). Early studies proposed cyclic hexapeptide structures containing three serines and three ornithine derivatives for δ1-, δ2- and ε-albomycin (cf. Ferrichromes). Structural studies: eidem., Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 30, 118 (1965); Poddubnaya, el'Naggar, Zh. Obshch. Khim. 38, 450 (1968). Conflicting structural analysis shows a 3:1 ornithine : serine ratio: Maehr, Pitcher, J. Antibiot. 24, 830 (1971). Similarity to or identity with grisein, q.v.: Stapley, Ormond, Science 125, 587 (1957); Turková et al., Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 31, 2444 (1966). Review and antibacterial spectrum of albomycin and other hydroxamic acids: Gauze, Br. Med. J. 2, 1177 (1955); Bhuyan in Antibiotics 1, D. Gottlieb, P. D. Shaw, Eds. (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1967) pp 153-155; Maehr, Pure Appl. Chem. 28, 603-636 (1971); Emery, Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol. 35, 135-185 (1971).