Herbimycin

Herbimycin is a benzoquinone ansamycin antibiotic that binds to Hsp90 (Heat Shock Protein 90) and alters its function. HSP90 client proteins play important roles in the regulation of the cell cycle, cell growth, cell survival, apoptosis, angiogenesis and oncogenesis.

It was originally found by its herbicidal activity, and thus named.

Synonyms

 * Antibiotic Tan 420F
 * Herbimycin A

Biological activity
Herbimycin induces the degradation of proteins that are mutated in tumor cells such as v-Src, Bcr-Abl and p53 preferentially over their normal cellular counterparts. This effect is mediated via HSP90.