Abstract
Microbial Chemistry as a Structural and Functional Backbone of Modern Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Alejandro M. TorresMedicinal chemistry focuses on the identification and optimization of chemical substances capable of producing therapeutic effects in biological systems. Microbial chemistry has contributed extensively to this field by providing a continuous supply of chemically diverse and biologically potent metabolites. These microbial-derived compounds often possess complex molecular architectures and intrinsic bioactivity, making them ideal candidates for drug lead discovery and optimization. Through the application of chemical modification, biosynthetic manipulation, and structure–activity relationship studies, microbial metabolites have been transformed into clinically valuable medicines. This article presents a comprehensive discussion on the role of microbial chemistry in medicinal chemistry, emphasizing its influence on lead compound identification, molecular optimization, and modern therapeutic development.
