Paralog Specific Hsp90 Inhibitors - A Brief History and a Bright Future

BACKGROUND: The high sequence and structural homology among the hsp90 paralogs - Hsp90α, Hsp90β, Grp94, and Trap-1 - has made the development of paralog-specific inhibitors a challenging proposition. OBJECTIVE: This review surveys the state of developments in structural analysis, compound screening, and structure-based design that have been brought to bear on this problem. RESULTS: First generation compounds that selectively bind to Hsp90, Grp94, or Trap-1 have been identified. CONCLUSION: With the proof of principle firmly established, the prospects for further progress are bright.