The immunosuppressive and cytostatic agent 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) binds to the Hsc70 class of molecular chaperones with a K(D) = 4 microM. Because Hsc70s represent a diverse group of cellular effectors and because Hsc70 function frequently requires a DnaJ molecular chaperone, the specificity of DSG for different Hsc70s and the ability of DSG to block the productive interaction between an Hsc70 and its DnaJ partner were examined. DSG stimulated the ATPase activity of a mammalian and yeast cytosolic Hsc70 from 20 to 40%, but was unable to elicit such a response in a homologous Hsc70, Binding Protein (BiP), that resides in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, the DnaJ-stimulated Hsc70 ATPase activity and the DnaJ-mediated release of an unfolded polypeptide from an Hsc70 were unaffected by DSG. These results indicate that Hsc70s exhibit substrate selectivity for DSG and that DSG does not compromise Hsc70 functions that require DnaJs. Thus, the immunosuppressive and cytostatic effects of DSG may be specific for a subset of cellular Hsc70s and confined to DnaJ-independent Hsc70-mediated activities.