The Chemistry and Biology of the Leptomycin Family

Abstract

Natural products play a dominant role in providing ligands that interfere with biopolymers such as receptors or enzymes. In many cases the exact mode of action or the targets are not known and synthesis of analogs provides a more detailed insight into the mode of action and helps to identify the protein target. We discuss the synthetic endeavors that led to the synthesis of members of the leptomycin family and will provide a picture of the mode of action.