Polyketide

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. 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). 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. Polyketides are synthesized by one or more specialized and highly complex polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymes.