Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are highly conserved proteins and have
cytoprotective role for maintaining cellular protein conformation. Hsps not only keep
proteins in their native state but also involve in several essential biochemical process.
This review summarizes structural properties of Hsps (Hsp70, Hsp40, Hsp90, Hsp100,
Hsp60, sHsps, and Nucleotide Exchange Factors) and explains their roles in aging,
apoptosis, cancer, neurodegeneration, cardio-vascular diseases, obesity and diabetes
mellitus, and housekeeping.
Keywords: Apoptosis, cancer, Heat shock proteins, neurodegeneration, protein
aggregation, protein folding.
