title: Different anti-aggregation and pro-degradative functions of the members of the mammalian sHSP family in neurological disorders.
abstract: The family of the mammalian small heat-shock proteins consists of 10 members (sHSPs/HSPBs: HSPB1-HSPB10) that all share a highly conserved C-terminal alpha-crystallin domain, important for the modulation of both their structural and functional properties. HSPB proteins are biochemically classified as molecular chaperones and participate in protein quality control, preventing the aggregation of unfolded or misfolded proteins and/or assisting in their degradation. Thus, several members of the HSPB family have been suggested to be protective in a number of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases that are characterized by protein misfolding. However, the pro-refolding, anti-aggregation or pro-degradative properties of the various members of the HSPB family differ largely, thereby influencing their efficacy and protective functions. Such diversity depends on several factors, including biochemical and physical properties of the unfolded/misfolded client, the expression levels and the subcellular localization of both the chaperone and the client proteins. Furthermore, although some HSPB members are inefficient at inhibiting protein aggregation, they can still exert neuroprotective effects by other, as yet unidentified, manners; e.g. by maintaining the proper cellular redox state or/and by preventing the activation of the apoptotic cascade. Here, we will focus our attention on how the differences in the activities of the HSPB proteins can influence neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders characterized by accumulation of aggregate-prone proteins. Understanding their mechanism of action may allow us to target a specific member in a specific cell type/disease for therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Universita' degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, , via G. Campi 287, Modena 41125, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carra
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rusmini
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boncoraglio
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cristofani
authors.forename: Maximillian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naujock
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minoia
authors.forename: Harm H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kampinga
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poletti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D050888:Heat-Shock Proteins, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D008322:Mammals; D057165:Proteostasis Deficiencies / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050888:Heat-Shock Proteins, Small