Arabidopsis thaliana J-class heat shock proteins: cellular stress sensors

• Published in: Functional & integrative genomics 2009-11, Vol.9 (4), p.433-446
• Main Authors: Rajan, Vinoth Babu V, D'Silva, Patrick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Arabidopsis - cytology; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis Proteins - chemistry; Arabidopsis Proteins - classification; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; Arabidopsis thaliana; Biochemistry; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Botany; Cell Biology; Cellular biology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Genome, Plant; Genomics; Heat shock proteins; Heat-Shock Proteins - chemistry; Heat-Shock Proteins - classification; Heat-Shock Proteins - genetics; Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Life Sciences; Mathematics in biology. Statistical analysis. Models. Metrology. Data processing in biology (general aspects); Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Review; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Stress, Physiological; Zinc Fingers
• ISSN: 1438-793X; 1438-7948
• DOI: 10.1007/s10142-009-0132-0

Plants are sessile organisms that have evolved a variety of mechanisms to maintain their cellular homeostasis under stressful environmental conditions. Survival of plants under abiotic stress conditions requires specialized group of heat shock protein machinery, belonging to Hsp70:J-protein family. These heat shock proteins are most ubiquitous types of chaperone machineries involved in diverse cellular processes including protein folding, translocation across cell membranes, and protein degradation. They play a crucial role in maintaining the protein homeostasis by reestablishing functional native conformations under environmental stress conditions, thus providing protection to the cell. J-proteins are co-chaperones of Hsp70 machine, which play a critical role by stimulating Hsp70s ATPase activity, thereby stabilizing its interaction with client proteins. Using genome-wide analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana, here we have outlined identification and systematic classification of J-protein co-chaperones which are key regulators of Hsp70s function. In comparison with Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system, a comprehensive domain structural organization, cellular localization, and functional diversity of A. thaliana J-proteins have also been summarized.