ABSTRACT
Roseoflavin (RoF) and its analogues have been studied not only as antagonists of riboflavin (RF), but also to elucidate the mechanisms of interaction between RoF and apoflavoproteins. RoF is slightly soluble in water, giving a garnet red solution which is nonfluorescent. Rudzit et al. studied antimicrobial activity of RF derivatives including RoF against Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Diplococcus, and Bacillus species. Most physicochemical properties of nekoflavin (NF) are similar to those of RF (reduction, autoxidation of the reduced form, greenish-yellow fluorescence, photolysis to lumichrome- and lumiflavin-like substances). Schizoflavins (SFs) are formed from RF not only by fermentation but also by incubation with a powdered preparation of air-dried Schizophyllum. The reaction mechanism of SF2-forming enzyme is interesting. It catalyzes the oxidation of RF by two different types of electron acceptors: either quinone-type dyes or O2 in the presence of NADPH. However, the known natural quinone-type electron acceptors found in microorganisms are inactive.
