Overview:

HSP40 is a member of heat shock proteins (HSPs) which are synthesized in cells in response to heat shock and other metabolic stresses and provide a transient state of thermotolerance. HSP40 is localized faintly throughout the cell in non-heat-shocked cells and accumulates in the nuclei and nucleoli in heat-shocked cells (1). The intracellular localization of HSP40 is very similar to that of HSP70. Overexpression of HSP40 reduces aggregate formation and suppresses apoptosis in a neuronal cell model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (inherited neurodegenerative diseases caused by polyglutamine expansion) (2).

Gene Aliases:

DNAJB1; HSPF1

Genbank Number:

NM_006145

References:

1. Hattori, H. et al: Intracellular localization and partial amino acid sequence of a stress-inducible 40-kDa protein in HeLa cells. Cell Struct. Funct. 1992;17(1):77-86.

2. Kobayashi, Y. et al: Chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp40 suppress aggregate formation and apoptosis in cultured neuronal cells expressing truncated androgen receptor protein with expanded polyglutamine tract. J Biol Chem. 2000 24;275:8772-8