Depsipeptide

Depsipeptides are peptides, which contain in addition to peptide bonds ( amide ) and ester bonds.

Depsipeptides often found use in the study of the influence of hydrogen bonds on the kinetics and thermodynamics of protein folding. In this context, synthetic peptide analogs have been produced.

Depsipeptides but are also found in nature: An example of this is the L- Lys -D -Ala- D- Lac- motif that is found in vancomycin-resistant bacteria in the pentapeptide cell wall components. Replacement of the amide group by an ester group to prevent the binding of vancomycin, whereby it is effective. Other examples of natural depsipeptides are the antibiotics from the group of Katanosine the enniatins (see fusafungine ) or the didemnins. Most depsipeptides have a cyclic structure and are optically active, inert, stable, crystalline substances. The amino acid building blocks of depsipeptides are widely varied, as is often hydroxy acid D- α - hydroxy isovaleric acid included.