The profile of bioconversion products of istamycin (IS) components by a blocked IS mutant of Streptomyces tenjimariensis that lost IS-productivity suggested a possible biosynthetic pathway of IS similar to that of fortimicin (FT) by Micromonospora olivasterospora. Both organisms are resistant to the antibiotics produced by each other. Based on these similarities, they were examined for their capability to convert an FT-intermediate (FT-B) and IS-intermediates (IS-A0 and -B0) through their biosynthetic pathways. S. tenjimariensis formed 1-epi-FT-B, 2''-N-formimidoyl-FT-A (= dactimicin) and 1-epidactimicin (a new antibiotic) from FT-B. On the other hand, M. olivasterospora converted IS-A0 and -B0 to 2''-N-formimidoyl-IS-A (= IS-A3) and -B (= IS-B3), respectively. Thus, the similarity in antibiotic biosynthesis was confirmed between these FT-group antibiotic-producing organisms. It was also found that the major fermentation product of M. olivasterospora is not FT-A (astromicin) but dactimicin.