Covering：1993 up to May 2020

Linaridins, defined as linear, dehydrated (arid) peptides, are a small but growing family of natural products belonging to the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) superfamily. To date, only a few members of the linaridin family have been characterized; however, in silico analysis has shown that this family of RiPPs is widespread in nature with high structural diversity. Unlike the case of most of the dehydroamino acid-containing RiPPs, such as lanthipeptides and thiopeptides, in which dehydroamino acids are produced by lanthipeptide dehydratase-like enzymes, in linaridins, dehydroamino acids are produced by a distinct set of enzymes with still unknown biochemistry. In this Highlight we have discussed the structural features, classification, biosynthesis, engineering, and widespread occurrence of linaridins and highlighted several intriguing issues in the maturation of this RiPP family.