Thiopeptide

[1] Many of the members of this class show activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and are therefore subjects of research interest.

[2] Thiopeptides are sulfur-rich macrocyclic peptides containing highly-modified amino acids.

They are characterized by a nitrogen-containing six-membered ring (such as piperidine, dehydropiperidine, or pyridine) substituted with multiple thiazole rings and dehydroamino acids.

[3] A macrocylic ring serves as a scaffold for a tail that also incorporates modified amino acids often with azole rings, such as thiazoles, oxazoles, and thiazolines which are derived from serine, threonine, and cysteine residues.

[3] Examples of thiopeptides include thiostrepton, cyclothiazomycin, nosiheptide, and lactocillin.