Heat shock proteins

Abstract

Heat shock proteins are three families of proteins classified according to their molecular weight (27kDa,70 kDa and 90 kDa). These well conserved proteins are responsible for the protection of other polypeptides with in the cell after external stress. In animals, overexpression of these proteins is observed following different situations ranging from hyperthermiato chemicals, infections and hypoxia exposure.The heat shock proteins expression results in chaperoning  of other functionnally crucial proteins of the cell machinery. In agronomy, so far, stress proteins have not been considered although they may represent an important parameter for optimal livestock production.