[A cyclic hexadepsipeptide antibiotic and mycotoxin isolated from the fungus Beauveria bassiana and various Fusarium fungal species. As a potassium-specific ionophore, beauvericin A increases intracellular calcium concentrations and triggers DNA fragmentation and apoptosis through a calcium dependent caspase 3-sensitive pathway. This agent has been studied as a potential antineoplastic agent. (NCI04) ( NCI )]