Chemical proteomics reveals heat shock protein 60 to be the main cellular target of the marine bioactive sesterterpene suvanine.

Marine bioactive compounds are potential drug leads because of their diverse pharmacological effects against human diseases. The identification of their cellular targets is crucial for a rational approach to their application in medicinal chemistry. Thus, we have analyzed the cell interactome of suvanine, a sulfated tricyclic terpenoid of marine origin endowed with an interesting anti-inflammatory activity, by application of a chemical proteomic approach. Heat Shock Protein 60, a chaperone involved in the inflammatory response, is the main cellular target of suvanine, which is also able to interfere with protein chaperone activity, giving evidence for its anti-inflammatory properties.