Molecular mechanisms underlying nonribosomal peptide synthesis: Approaches to new antibiotics

Nonribosomal peptide synthases (NRPS) have made it possible to assemble a number of peptidic natural products. An overview is given of the understanding of natural NRPS synthesis and of progress in genetically engineered and chemoenzymatic synthesis of nonribosomal peptide products. Focus is on recent progress made on structure determination and mechanistic predictions, as well as approaches to novel peptide antibiotics.