A Small Molecule Inhibitor of Inducible Heat Shock Protein 70

The multifunctional, stress-inducible molecular chaperone HSP70 has important roles in aiding protein folding and maintaining protein homeostasis. HSP70 expression is elevated in many cancers, contributing to tumor cell survival and resistance to therapy. We have determined that a small molecule called 2-phenylethynesulfonamide (PES) interacts selectively with HSP70 and leads to a disruption of the association between HSP70 and several of its co-chaperones and substrate proteins. Treatment of cultured tumor cells with PIES promotes cell death that is associated with protein aggregation, impaired autophagy, and inhibition of lysosomal function. Moreover, this small molecule is able to suppress tumor development and enhance survival in a mouse model of Myc-induced lymphomagenesis. The data demonstrate that PIES disrupts actions of HSP70 in multiple cell signaling pathways, offering an opportunity to better understand the diverse functions of this molecular chaperone and also to aid in the development of new cancer therapies.