Novel depsipeptides, named chondramides were produced at levels up to 4.3 mg/liter by several myxobacteria of the genus Chondromyces. The compounds are structurally closely related to jaspamide/jasplakinolide from marine sponges of the genus Jaspis. Initially the chondramides were detected in acetone extracts of the biomass of Chondromyces crocatus, strain Cm c2. So far, four structural variants could be characterized, the chondramides A approximately D. They inhibited the growth of a few yeasts and showed high cytostatic activity against cultivated human and animal cells.