Abstract

CHAVEZ-ZOBEL, Aura T  and  SAENZ-SUAREZ, Homero. The small heat shock proteins (sHsp/HSPB) and their implication in the development of degenerative diseases. Univ. Sci. [online]. 2009, vol.14, n.1, pp.29-40. ISSN 0122-7483.

Stress proteins are present in all the cells and participate in the synthesis of proteins binding their selves to the newly formed peptides to direct their folding, thus ensuring their three-dimensional structure and appropriate functioning. Besides, stress proteins are able to bind to damaged peptides and proteins due to diverse types of aggressions, enabling their repair or degradation. When cells are exposed to adverse situations, a rapid increase in concentration of stress proteins occurs. Stress protein expression had been associated to heat shocks only, but nowadays we know that stress proteins are induced as a response to a wide array of physiological and environmental aggressions such as: viral infections, inflammations, febrile responses, cell exposure to cytotoxic compounds, pH acidification, anoxia, and heat shock. The production of this type of molecules is a defense mechanism that allows the cell to adapt to anomalous situations and increase its survival capacity. In our study we present a brief historical account on stress proteins, their association with some pathologies, and discuss the current state of knowledge about this type of molecules and the possible mechanisms involved in protein conformational disorders or proteopathies.

Keywords : Heat shock proteins (Hsp); body inclusion; degenerative diseases; myopathies; mutations.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )