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. The most recent herbimycins to be discovered, herbimycins D-F, were isolated from a Streptomyces isolated from thermal vents associated with the Ruth Mullins coal fire in Appalachian Kentucky.

Synonyms

 * Antibiotic Tan 420F
 * Herbimycin A

Biological activity
Herbimycin induces the degradation of proteins that are need to be mutated in tumor cells such as v-Src, Bcr-Abl and p53 preferentially over their normal cellular counterparts. This effect is mediated via Hsp90.