It is produced by the strain of Streptomyces chartreusis. It has the activity of anti-gram-positive bacteria and mycobacterium. Chartreusin is an antitumour antibiotic that binds to GC-rich tracts in DNA, with a clear preference for B-DNA over Z-DNA; inhibits RNA synthesis and causes single-strand scission of DNA via the formation of free radicals; a potent inhibitor of topoisomerase II.