Marine Depsipeptides as Promising Pharmacotherapeutic Agents.

Depsipeptides are a group of biologically active peptides that have at least one of the amide bonds replaced by an ester bond. These peptides sometimes present additional chemical modifications, including unusual amino acid residues in their structures. Depsipeptides are known to exhibit a large array of bioactivities, such as anticancer, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antiviral and antiplasmodial properties. They are commonly found in marine organisms: bacteria, tunicates, mollusks, sponges, and others. Herein, we summarize the latest insights about marine depsipeptides, their mechanisms of action and potential as therapeutic agents.