Carmomycins

Carmomycins are a group of naturally occurring antibiotics belonging to the anthracycline family. These compounds are produced by certain species of *Streptomyces* bacteria. Structurally, carmomycins are characterized by a tetracyclic aglycone moiety linked to a daunosamine sugar. Their mechanism of action involves intercalating into DNA, interfering with DNA replication and transcription. This disruption of cellular processes ultimately leads to cell death. Carmomycins have demonstrated significant antitumor activity against various cancer cell lines and in preclinical models. However, like other anthracyclines, they can exhibit dose-limiting toxicities, including cardiotoxicity. Research has focused on synthesizing analogs of carmomycins with improved therapeutic indices, aiming to reduce side effects while retaining or enhancing their anticancer efficacy. The development of carmomycins and related compounds has contributed to the broader understanding of anthracycline chemotherapy.