Separation of ferrichromes and other hydroxamate siderophores of fungal origin by reversed-phase chromatography.

Iron(III) chelates of nineteen trihydroxamate siderophores of fungal origin, including ferrichromes, coprogen and triacetylfusarinine C, were separated on a preparative scale with a reversed-phase column using the octadecyl silica gels LRP-1 or LRP-2 as the stationary phase and a water-methanol gradient as the mobile phase. Using this system in combination with silica gel column chromatography, most siderophores can be obtained in pure form. Factors affecting the mobility of these compounds in the reversed-phase system are discussed.