Marine-derived Acremonium strain prioritization using untargeted metabolomics approach for the identification of cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptides

The identification of five known cytotoxic destruxin-type depsipeptides from A. synnematoferum as a new source expands the chemical diversity known for this genus and underscores their potential for the development of cytotoxic agents. These findings highlight not only the value of Arctic fungi as a reservoir of bioactive compounds but also the necessity of deciphering the ecological roles of cytotoxic metabolites produced by these organisms as they adapt to extreme environments. Furthermore, this study highlights the effectiveness of multi-informative-driven strain prioritization in uncovering bioactive metabolites from new fungal sources, emphasizing the significance of exploring Arctic fungal diversity for its potential to enhance chemical diversity, contribute to drug development, and broaden our understanding of ecological roles.