Pharmaceutical agents from filamentous marine cyanobacteria

Filamentous marine cyanobacteria have emerged as an important source of novel lead compounds for drug discovery and development. The majority of these molecules are nitrogen-containing, belonging to the hybrid polyketide-polypeptide structural class. Owing to their specific interactions with cellular targets, several marine cyanobacterial compounds are currently being pursued for drug development in various disease areas, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and infectious disease. This review features more than 25 marine cyanobacterial metabolites and they are discussed based on their biological activities. Medically relevant molecular targets, such as microtubules, actin filaments, proteasome and histone deacetylase enzymes, of these compounds will be emphasized.