Curromycins A and B, antibiotics specific to Agrobacterium tumefaciens, inhibited crown gall formation on potato tubers. Their esters showed potent inhibitory activity against crown gall formation without any antibacterial activity. The change in biological activity of curromycins by simple esterification was similar to our previous observation in oxazolomycin. Curromycin esters are possible chemical probes to study the mechanism for plant transformation. © 1996, Taylor &amp
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