Survey of the didemnins: A class of depsipeptide natural products with promising biomedical applications

The didemnins represent a versatile class of depsipeptides of marine origin and hold a great deal of potential for biomedical application. The biological and geographical origins of the didemnins are reviewed in addition to the chemical structures of the major didemnins. The biological mechanisms behind the antiviral and anticancer effects of selected didemnins are summarized and the special case of dehydrodidemnin B (Aplidin) is expounded upon including structural characteristics, synthesis, pharmacological mechanism and a discussion of its current clinical trials as an anticancer agent.