Allosteric modulators of Hsp90 and Hsp70: Dynamics meets Function through Structure-Based Drug Design

Molecular chaperones HSP90 and HSP70 are essential regulators of the folding and activation of a disparate ensemble of client proteins. They function through ATP hydrolysis and the assembly of multiprotein complexes with co-chaperones and clients. While their therapeutic relevance is recognized, important details underlying the links between ATP-dependent conformational dynamics and clients/co-chaperones recruitment remain elusive. Allosteric modulators represent fundamental tools to obtain molecular insights into functional regulation. By selectively perturbing different aspect of HSP90/HSP70 activities, allosteric drugs can tune rather than completely inhibit signaling cascades, providing information on the relationships between structure-dynamics and function. Herein, we review advances in the design of HSP90 and HSP70 allosteric modulators. We consider inhibitors and activators in different biochemical and disease models. We discuss these compounds as probes to decipher the complexity of the chaperone machinery that at the same time represent starting leads for the development of drugs against cancer and neurodegeneration.