Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a family of proteins produced by cells in response to exposure to stressful conditions. They were first described in relation to heat shock, but are now known to also be expressed during other stresses including exposure to cold, UV light and during wound healing or tissue remodeling. Many members of this group perform chaperone functions by stabilizing new proteins to ensure correct folding or by helping to refold proteins that were damaged by the cell stress. This increase in expression is transcriptionally regulated. The dramatic upregulation of the heat shock proteins is a key part of the heat shock response and is induced primarily by heat shock factor (HSF). HSPs are found in virtually all living organisms, from bacteria to humans.
The 70 kilodalton heat shock proteins are a family of conserved ubiquitously expressed heat shock proteins. Proteins with similar structure exist in virtually all living organisms. Intracellularly localized Hsp70s are an important part of the cell's machinery for protein folding, performing chaperoning functions, and helping to protect cells from the adverse effects of physiological stresses. Additionally, membrane-bound Hsp70s have been identified as a potential target for cancer therapies and their extracellularly localized counterparts have been identified as having both membrane-bound and membrane-free structures.
Hop, occasionally written HOP, is an abbreviation for Hsp70-Hsp90 Organizing Protein. It functions as a co-chaperone which reversibly links together the protein chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90.
The glucocorticoid receptor also known as NR3C1 is the receptor to which cortisol and other glucocorticoids bind.
Heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 also known as heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein or Hsc70 or Hsp73 is a heat shock protein that in humans is encoded by the HSPA8 gene on chromosome 11. As a member of the heat shock protein 70 family and a chaperone protein, it facilitates the proper folding of newly translated and misfolded proteins, as well as stabilize or degrade mutant proteins. Its functions contribute to biological processes including signal transduction, apoptosis, autophagy, protein homeostasis, and cell growth and differentiation. It has been associated with an extensive number of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, cell senescence, and aging.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AHR gene. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is a transcription factor that regulates gene expression. It was originally thought to function primarily as a sensor of xenobiotic chemicals and also as the regulator of enzymes such as cytochrome P450s that metabolize these chemicals. The most notable of these xenobiotic chemicals are aromatic (aryl) hydrocarbons from which the receptor derives its name.
FK506-binding protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FKBP4 gene.
Heat shock protein 47, also known as SERPINH1 is a serpin which serves as a human chaperone protein for collagen.
Heat shock 70 kDa protein 1, also termed Hsp72, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HSPA1A gene. As a member of the heat shock protein 70 family and a chaperone protein, it facilitates the proper folding of newly translated and misfolded proteins, as well as stabilize or degrade mutant proteins. In addition, Hsp72 also facilitates DNA repair. Its functions contribute to biological processes including signal transduction, apoptosis, protein homeostasis, and cell growth and differentiation. It has been associated with an extensive number of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, cell senescence and aging, and inflammatory diseases such as Diabetes mellitus type 2 and rheumatoid arthritis.
Heat shock protein HSP 90-alpha is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HSP90AA1 gene.
Human gene HSPA1B is an intron-less gene which encodes for the heat shock protein HSP70-2, a member of the Hsp70 family of proteins. The gene is located in the major histocompatibility complex, on the short arm of chromosome 6, in a cluster with two paralogous genes, HSPA1A and HSPA1L. HSPA1A and HSPA1B produce nearly identical proteins because the few differences in their DNA sequences are almost exclusively synonymous substitutions or in the three prime untranslated region, heat shock 70kDa protein 1A, from HSPA1A, and heat shock 70kDa protein 1B, from HSPA1B. A third, more modified paralog to these genes exists in the same region, HSPA1L, which shares a 90% homology with the other two.
Heat shock factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HSF1 gene. HSF1 is highly conserved in eukaryotes and is the primary mediator of transcriptional responses to proteotoxic stress with important roles in non-stress regulation such as development and metabolism.
Heat shock protein HSP 90-beta also called HSP90beta is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HSP90AB1 gene.
Prostaglandin E synthase 3 (cytosolic) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PTGES3 gene.
Mitochondrial 70kDa heat shock protein (mtHsp70), also known as mortalin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HSPA9 gene.
STUB1 is a human gene that codes for the protein CHIP.
DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DNAJB1 gene.
Hsc70-interacting protein also known as suppression of tumorigenicity 13 (ST13) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ST13 gene.
Heat shock factor protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HSF2 gene.
Richard I. Morimoto is a Japanese American molecular biologist. He is the Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology and Director of the Rice Institute for Biomedical Research at Northwestern University.
