Discovery of Mammalian HSP40 and Subsequent Progress

In 1990, HSP40 was identified as a novel mammalian heat shock protein with molecular weight of approximately 40 kDa. Subsequent its partial amino acid sequence and cDNA cloning revealed that is homologue bacterial DnaJ protein. It has been found together HSP70 involved in the folding, protection denaturation promotion recovery heat-denatured also jointly inhibit formation aggregates characteristic neurodegenerative diseases function restoring activity temperature-sensitive mutant proteins. Currently, 49 homologues are mammals, term now used family name. This review describes circumstances discovery subsequent progress. Although this personal research history, it provides background fields proteins significant information for development hyperthermia research.