HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author Chem Rev Manuscript Author . Author manuscript; Manuscript Author available in PMC 2017 August 14. Published in final edited form as: Chem Rev. 2016 July 27; 116(14): 7818–7853. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00024. Structure, Chemical Synthesis, and Biosynthesis of Prodiginine Natural Products Dennis X. Hu†, David M. Withall‡, Gregory L. Challis‡,*, and Regan J. Thomson†,* †Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States ‡Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom Abstract The prodiginine family of bacterial alkaloids is a diverse set of heterocyclic natural products that have likely been known to man since antiquity. In more recent times, these alkaloids have been discovered to span a wide range of chemical structures that possess a number of interesting biological activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of research undertaken toward the isolation and structural elucidation of the prodiginine family of natural products. Additionally, research toward chemical synthesis of the prodiginine alkaloids over the last several decades is extensively reviewed. Finally, the current, evidence-based understanding of the various biosynthetic pathways employed by bacteria to produce prodiginine alkaloids is summarized. Graphical Abstract *Corresponding Authors:
[email protected] (G.L.C.).
[email protected] (R.J.T.). Notes The authors declare no competing financial interest. Hu et al. Page 2 Author ManuscriptAuthor 1. Manuscript Author INTRODUCTION Manuscript Author Manuscript Author In the summer of 1819, the apparently spontaneous, brilliant reddening of a farmer’s polenta (boiled cornmeal) created a stir in Padua, Italy.1 Local peasants called the occurrence “bloody polenta”, believing it to be of diabolical origin, and implored priests to banish the evil spirits behind the event.