Polyketides are secondary metabolites from bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Polyketides are biosynthesized by the polymerization of acetyl and propionyl subunits in a similar process to fatty acid synthesis (a Claisen condensation). ^[1] They are the building blocks for a broad range of natural products or are further derivatized.

Polyketides are structurally a very diverse family of natural products with diverse biological activities and pharmacological properties. Polyketide antibiotics, antifungals, cytostatics, anticholesterolemics, antiparasitics, coccidiostatics, animal growth promoters and natural insecticides are in commercial use.^{[citation needed]}

Examples

• Macrolides
  • Picromycin, the first isolated macrolide (1950)
  • The antibiotics erythromycin A, clarithromycin, and azithromycin
  • The immunosuppressant tacrolimus (FK506)
• Polyene antibiotics
  • Amphotericin
• Tetracyclines
  • The tetracycline family of antibiotics
• Acetogenins
  • Annonacin
  • Uvaricin
• Others
  • Discodermolide
  • Aflatoxin

Biosynthesis

Polyketides are synthesized by one or more specialized and highly complex polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymes. ^[1]

References

See also

• Esterase
• Nonribosomal peptide

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