Originally discovered by Sobin and Tanner in 1954, Anisomycin was identified as an antibiotic active against protozoa such as Trichomonas and fungi and yeasts, and was considered as a potential human anti-candidal and anti-amoebic drug. Sobin, B. A., and F. W. Tanner, Jr. 1954. Anisomycin, a new antiprotozoa antibiotic. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 76:4053. As such, Anisomycin was put by GONZALEZ CONSTANDSE to clinical trials in 1955: Anisomycin in intestinal amebiasis; study of 30 clinical casesPrensa Med Mex. 1956 Sep-Dec;21(7-10):114-5 Anisomycin is also proposed as a potential psychiatric drug, as it is shown to affect protein synthesis an Amygdala, a brain part involved in memory(1). The earliest usage of Anisomycin in research on memory biochemistry was made by Jonec and Walsterlain in 1979 . Again, this property of Anisomycin is ascribed to its ability to inhibit protein synthesis. Effect of inhibitors of protein synthesis on the development of kindled seizures in rats.Jonec V, Walsterlain CG.Exp Neurol. 1979 Dec;66(3):524-32 Recently, publications appear showing the immunomodulating properties on Anisomycin. This discovery leads to researches on the potential use of Anisomycin in transplantation: Anisomycin inhibits the behaviors of T cells and the allogeneic skin transplantation in mice.Xing F et al,J Immunother. 2008 Nov-Dec;31(9):858-70 In the field of cell-signaling research, Anisomycin is used as an activator of kinase cascades in mammalian cells, especially the stress-activated Protein Kinase (SAPK2/p38MAPK) and p46/54JNK Anisomycin is a selective ingredientof Martin Lewis Agar, a bacteriological solid medium used for isolation of pathogenic Neisseria species. Martin, J. E., Jr., and J. S. Lewis. 1977. Anisomycin: improved antimycotic activity in modified Thayer-Martin medium. Public Health Lab. 35:53-62

HSP-90 inhibitor; potential anti-cancer drug

This compound was mentioned as an anticancer medicine. Geldanamycin derivates all interfere with heat-shock proteins, especially HSP90. 17-AAG belongs to a class of drugs called heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors.