Genetic regulation during heat shock and function of heat-shock proteins: a review

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 387-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Tanguay

The induction by thermal stress of certain specific genes (heat-shock genes) first described in Drosophila has recently been observed in a wide variety of unicellular and multicellular organisms, emphasizing the basic importance of this ubiquitous response. Recent data dealing with the molecular mechanisms involved in the intensive transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation during heat shock is reviewed with emphasis on the induction of the response and the putative function of the heat-shock proteins. A model showing the various interactions of cellular regulatory mechanisms operating in the heat-shocked cell is presented. While the list of agents or treatments inducing heat-shock proteins (hsp's) in various organisms is increasing, the identification of a hypothetical common inducing factor is elusive. The recently described reorganization of some cytoskeletal elements upon heat shock is discussed both in terms of its potential involvement in transcriptional and (or) translational regulation and of its putative relation with the cellular localization of the hsp's. Studies on the cellular localization of hsp's in various organisms do not show a clear uniform pattern which could help in elucidating the function of hsp's. On the other hand, studies on the thermal resistance of various cells types show a strong correlation between the induction of hsp's and the development of transitory thermotolerance. Such a protective function for hsp's can probably be extended to other types of cellular aggression.

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 3441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Jagla ◽  
Magda Dubińska-Magiera ◽  
Preethi Poovathumkadavil ◽  
Małgorzata Daczewska ◽  
Krzysztof Jagla

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) form a large family of evolutionarily conserved molecular chaperones that help balance protein folding and protect cells from various stress conditions. However, there is growing evidence that Hsps may also play an active role in developmental processes. Here, we take the example of developmental expression and function of one class of Hsps characterized by low molecular weight, the small Hsps (sHsps). We discuss recent reports and genome-wide datasets that support vital sHsps functions in the developing nervous system, reproductive system, and muscles. This tissue- and time-specific sHsp expression is developmentally regulated, so that the enhancer sequence of an sHsp gene expressed in developing muscle, in addition to stress-inducible elements, also carries binding sites for myogenic regulatory factors. One possible reason for sHsp genes to switch on during development and in non-stress conditions is to protect vital developing organs from environmental insults.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2045-2050 ◽  
Author(s):  
YI ZHANG ◽  
MANSEL W. GRIFFITHS

Heat shock proteins play an important role in protecting bacterial cells against several stresses, including starvation. In this study, the promoters for two genes encoding heat shock proteins involved in many stress responses, UspA and GrpE, were fused with the green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene. Thus, the expression of the two genes could be quantified by measuring the fluorescence emitted by the cells under different environmental conditions. The heat resistance levels of starved and nonstarved cells during storage at 5, 10, and 37°C were compared with the levels of expression of the uspA and grpE genes. D52-values (times required for decimal reductions in count at 52°C) increased by 11.5, 14.6, and 18.5 min when cells were starved for 3 h at 37°C, for 24 h at 10°C, and for 2 days at 5°C, respectively. In all cases, these increases were significant (P < 0.01), indicating that the stress imposed by starvation altered the ability of E. coli O157:H7 to survive subsequent heat treatments. Thermal tolerance was correlative with the induction of UspA and GrpE. At 5°C, the change in the thermal tolerance of the pathogen was positively linked to the induced expression of the grpE gene but negatively related to the expression of the uspA gene. The results obtained in this study indicate that UspA plays an important role in starvation-induced thermal tolerance at 37°C but that GrpE may be more involved in regulating this response at lower temperatures. An improvement in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in these cross-protection responses may make it possible to devise strategies to limit their effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-474
Author(s):  
Rafael Guerrero-Rojas ◽  
Carlos Guerrero-Fonsecaz

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 364-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan I. Dedov ◽  
Vsevolod A. Tkachuk ◽  
Nikolai B. Gusev ◽  
Vladimir P. Shirinsky ◽  
Aleksandr V. Vorotnikov ◽  
...  

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a socially important disease with only symptomatic therapy developed due to lack of knowledge about its pathogenesis and underlying mechanism. Insulin resistance (IR) is the first link of T2DM pathogenesis and results in decrease of ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake by target cells. Development of IR involves genetic predisposition, excessive nutrition, stress, obesity or chronic inflammation due to disruption of insulin signaling within cells. Molecular mechanisms and markers of IR are characterized rather poorly, which prevents early diagnosis and creation of preventive therapy. Euglycemic clamp test is still a golden standard for IR diagnosis in clinic. Hyperglycemia is a distant consequence of IR in which damaging effect of oxidative and carbonyl stress is realized and diagnosis of T2DM is stipulated. Molecular chaperones and small heat-shock proteins have a protective effect at the early stages of T2DM pathogenesis, preventing development of reticulum stress and apoptosis. Endothelial dysfunction is related to T2DM and its cardiovascular complications, however, it is unknown on which stage of pathogenesis these changes occur and what are their molecular inductors. Finally, transcriptional activity and adipogenic differentiation play an important role in formation of new fat depots from predecessor cells and activation of brown and beige fat demonstrating hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic properties. The aim of this study was investigation of pathophysiological mechanisms of development of IR and endothelial dysfunction, role of transcription factor Prep1 and small heat shock proteins, evaluation of novel methods of diagnostics of IR and therapeutic potential of brown and beige fat, determination of biotargets for new antidiabetic drugs.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 826-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard M. Prentice ◽  
Sarah L. Milton ◽  
Daniela Scheurle ◽  
Peter L. Lutz

Because heat shock proteins (HSPs) have an important protective function against ischemia/anoxia in mammalian brain, the authors investigated the expression of Hsp72 and Hsc73 in the anoxia-surviving turtle brain. Unlike the mammalian brain, high levels of Hsp72 were found in the normoxic turtle brain. Hsp72 levels were significantly increased by 4 hours of anoxia, remained constant until 8 hours, and then decreased to baseline at 12 hours. By contrast, Hsc73 was progressively increased throughout 12 hours of anoxia. This differential expression suggests different protective roles: Hsp72 in the initial downregulatory transition phase, and Hsc73 in maintaining neural network integrity during the long-term hypometabolic phase.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arman Kilic ◽  
Kaushik Mandal

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a highly conserved group of proteins that are constitutively expressed and function as molecular chaperones, aiding in protein folding and preventing the accumulation of misfolded proteins. In the arterial wall, HSPs have a protective role under normal physiologic conditions. In disease states, however, HSPs expressed on the vascular endothelial cell surface can act as targets for detrimental autoimmunity due to their highly conserved sequences. Developing therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis based on HSPs is challenged by the need to balance such physiologic and pathologic roles of these proteins. This paper summarizes the role of HSPs in normal vascular wall processes as well as in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The potential implications of HSPs in clinical therapies for atherosclerosis are also discussed.


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