Tamoxifen enhances the Hsp90 molecular chaperone ATPase activity.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 20376192.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0009934 and PMC identifier PMC1760730.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hsp90 is an essential molecular chaperone that is also a novel anti-cancer drug target. There is growing interest in developing new drugs that modulate Hsp90 activity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a virtual screening approach, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, the active metabolite of the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen, was identified as a putative Hsp90 ligand. Surprisingly, while all drugs targeting Hsp90 inhibit the chaperone ATPase activity, it was found experimentally that 4-hydroxytamoxifen and tamoxifen enhance rather than inhibit Hsp90 ATPase. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Hence, tamoxifen and its metabolite are the first members of a new pharmacological class of Hsp90 activators.