polyketidebased

Polyketide-based refers to a class of natural products synthesized by a pathway analogous to fatty acid biosynthesis. These molecules are built from repeating units of acetate, propionate, or related carboxylic acids, which are sequentially added to a growing chain by a large enzyme complex called the polyketide synthase. The length of the chain and the type of starter and extender units determine the final structure of the polyketide. Modifications such as reduction, dehydration, and cyclization occur during or after the assembly process, leading to a diverse array of complex structures.

Polyketides are found in a wide range of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and marine invertebrates. They play crucial roles in the producing organisms, often serving as defense compounds, signaling molecules, or pigments. Many polyketides exhibit significant biological activities that are of interest to humans. For instance, some polyketides are used as pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics like erythromycin, antifungals such as amphotericin B, immunosuppressants like tacrolimus, and anticancer agents like doxorubicin. The structural diversity and potent biological activities of polyketides make them an important area of research in natural product chemistry and drug discovery.